Some people argue that the pressures on international sportsmen and sportswomen kill the essence(本质) of sport-seeking for personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. A single person’s representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself; he has to think only about winning. He is responsible for an entire nation’s hopes, dreams and fame.
A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world’s most important sport. It is even more important now that the United States is seriously taking it up. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the greatest of international sporting success. Mention “Argentina” to someone and the chances are that he’ll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup “put Argentina on the map”.
Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational(失去理性的) about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1996. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses and spent all their money traveling to Argentina where the finals were played.
So am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sports? Certainly not! Do the Argentineans really believe that because eleven of their men proved that most skillful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really. But it’s known that you won, and that in one way at least your country is best.What is the writer’s main purpose in the passage?
| A．To explain the role of sport |
| B．To compare Scotland with Argentina |
| C．To show that Argentina is better than all others. |
| D．To prove that football is the world’s most important sport. |
According to the passage, Argentina is world famous because of its ____.
| A． clear position on the map |
| B． successes in the football World Cup |
| C． excellence at all important sports |
| D．large number of sports fans and supporters |
According to the passage, if a sportsman thinks about winning, he will ____.
| A．be irrational | B．be successful |
| C．fail to succeed | D．lose enjoyment |
What is the writer’s attitude towards international games?
| A．Nations that meet on football are unlikely to meet on a battle field. |
| B．Nations that win in international games prove best on the sports field at least. |
| C．Nations that win the football World Cup are considered as best in all ways. |
| D．Nations that give much attention to international competitions are world-famous in many ways. |
From this passage, we can infer that ____.
| A．We should learn from England |
| B．We should play football only for fun, not for fame |
| C．We should learn from Argentina |
| D．We should give chances for other countries to win the World Cup |
When people find out that the product they bought is unsatisfying or in some other way does not live up to the manufacturer’s claims , the first step is to present the warranty , or any other records which might help , at the store of purchase . In most cases , this action will produce results . However , if it does not , there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction . A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager . In general , the “ higher up ” his or her complaint , the faster he or she can expect it to be settled . In such a case , it is usually settled in the consumer’s favor , assuming he or she has a just claim . Consumers should complain in person whenever possible , but if they cannot get to the place of purchase , it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter .
Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly , and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in question . If this cannot be done , the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong , rather than by making general statements . For example , “ The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear ” is better than “ This stereo does not work . ” The store manager may advise the consumer to write to be manufacturer . If so , the consumer should do this , stating the complaint as politely and firmly as possible . If a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result , the consumer can go to a step further . She or he can threaten to take the seller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumer’s rights .When people find that their purchase is unsatisfying , the first thing they should do is to __________ .
| A．complain personally to the manager |
| B．threaten to take the seller to court |
| C．write a firm letter of complaint to the store of purchase |
| D．show some written proof of the purchase to the store |
How can a consumer make his or her complaint more effective , according to the passage ?
| A．Make polite and general statements about the problem . |
| B．Threaten to take the seller to court . |
| C．Explain exactly what is wrong with the item . |
| D．Avoid having direct contact with the store manager . |
What’s the best title of this passage ?
| A．How to settle a consumer’s complaint |
| B．How to make an effective complaint |
| C．How to avoid buying a faulty item |
| D．How to deal with complaints |
Myfriend’sgrandfathercametoAmericafromafarminThailand.Afterarriving in New York, he went into a cafeteria(自助餐厅) inManhattan to get something to eat. He sat down at an empty table and waitedfor someone to take his order. Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with abig plate full of food came up to him. She sat down opposite him and toldhim how a cafeteriaworked.
“Start out at that end,” she said, “Just go along the line andchoose what you want. At the other end they’ll tell you how much you have topay.”
“I soon learned that’s how everything works in America,”the grandfather told my friend later, “Life’s a cafeteria here. You can getanything you want as long as you want to pay the price. You can even get success,but you’ll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have toget up and get ityourself.”My friend’s grandfather camefrom .
| A．Thailand | B．Manhattan |
| C．New York | D．China |
The grandfather went into a cafeteriato .
| A．wait forsomeone | B．get something toeat |
| C．meet myfriend | D．buy something |
The woman in the cafeteria mightbe .
| A．awaitress | B．a friend ofgrandpa’s |
| C．acustomer | D．an assistant |
What should we do to get food in acafeteria?
| A．Wait for the waiter. | B．Ask someone forhelp. |
| C．Get itourselves. | D．sit down at an empty table |
What can we learn from the grandfather’s words about the life in theUS?
| A．Get up early and you cansucceed. |
| B．Act and get what you want on yourown. |
| C．Nobody brings you anything unless you pay theprice. |
| D．Waiting is very important. |
People seem to have a natural need for friends and with good reason. Friends increase your enjoyment of life and relieve feelings of loneliness. They even can help reduce stress and improve your health. Having good friends is especially helpful when you are going through any kind of hard time such as when you are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.
When you are with good friends you feel good about yourself, and you are glad to be with them. A friend is someone who
●you like, respect, and trust, and who likes, respects and trusts you
●doesn’t always understand you, but accepts and likes you as you are, even as you grow and change
●allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes
●listens to you and shares with you both the good times and the bad times
●respects your need for secrets, so you can tell them anything
●lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, teasing, or criticizing you
●accepts the limitations you have put on yourself and helps you to remove them
A person once said, “Friendship is a continuing source of bonding（连接）, releasing, and creating in yourself and with the other person. There is an emotional bond between the two people.”
A good friend or supporter may or may not be the same age or the same sex as you, and may not have the same educational, cultural, or religious background, or share interests that are similar to yours. Friendships also have different depths. Some are closer to the heart and some more superficial, but they’re all useful and good.Which of the following is NOT a function of a friend?
| A．He brings you some happiness. |
| B．He helps you feel less lonely. |
| C．He helps you get over the difficulties. |
| D．He helps you cheat on the exam. |
The underlined word “superficial” means _______.
| A．deep | B．hard | C．shallow | D．close |
Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．A Friend in Need Is A Friend Indeed. |
| B．What Kind of Person A Friend Should Be. |
| C．To Be A Good Friend |
| D．How to Get on with Your Friend |
If you go into the woods with your friends, stay with them. If you don’t, you may get lost. If you do get lost, this is what you should do.
Sit down and stay where you are. Don’t try to find your friends — let them find you. You can help them to find you by staying in one place.
There is another way to help your friends or other people nearby to find you. Give them a signal by shouting or whistling（吹口哨）three times. Stop. Then shout or whistle three times again. Any signal given three times is a call for help. You will be helped by others.
Keep up the shouting or whistling, always three times together. When people hear you, they will know that you are not just making noise for fun. They will let you know they have heard your signal. They will give two shouts, two whistles or two gunshots. When a signal is given twice, it is an answer to a call for help.
If you don’t think that you will get help before night comes, try to make a little house and cover up the holes with branches with lots of leaves and grass. What should you do if you get hungry or need to drink some water? You should have to leave your little branch house to look for a brook. Don’t just walk away. Pick off small branches and drop them as you walk so that you can find your way back.
The most important thing to do when you are lost is — stay in one place. How do you let people believe that you are not just making noise for fun?
| A．Stop now and then. |
| B．Go on shouting or whistling. |
| C．Shout over and over at the top of voice. |
| D．Shout or whistle three times once a while. |
If nobody answers you after your signal, what should you do then?
| A．Give two gunshots. | B．Shout louder. |
| C．Stop shouting. | D．Make a house. |
If you feel thirsty when you are lost in the forest, what should you do?
| A．Go and find a brook. |
| B．Light a fire and make yourself some tea． |
| C．Go to find a brook and leave marks behind you. |
| D．Find something to hold the water. |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．What Do Three Shots And Two Shots Mean In A Forest |
| B．How To Find Your Friends When You Are Lost In The Woods |
| C．What To Do If You Get Lost In A Forest |
| D．The Most Important Thing To Do Is To Stay In One Place |
Have you ever noticed advertisements which say “Learn a foreign language in 6 weeks, or your money back! From the first day your pronunciation will be excellent. Just send…” and so on? Of course, it never happens quite like that. The only language that is easy to learn is one’s mother tongue. And think how much practice that gets! Before the Second World War people usually learnt a foreign language in order to read the literature of the country.
Now speaking a foreign language is what most people want. Every year millions of people start learning one. How do they do it? Some people try at home, with books and records of tapes; some use radio or television programs; some use computers and network; others go to evening classes. If they use the language only 2 or 3 times a week, learning it will take a long time, like learning a foreign language at school. A few people try to learn a language fast by studying for 6 or more hours a day. It is clearly easier to learn the language in the country where it is spoken.
However, most people cannot afford this, and for many it is not necessary. They need the language in order to do their work better. For example, scientists and doctors chiefly need to be able to read books and reports in the foreign language. Whether the language is learnt quickly or slowly, it is hard work. Machines and good books will help, but they cannot do the student’s work for him.According to some advertisements, you ______.
| A．have to pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks |
| B．needn’t pay your money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks |
| C．must pay your money if you cannot master a foreign language in 6 weeks |
| D．will be paid much money if you cannot learn a foreign language in 6 weeks |
Now most people try to learn a foreign language in order to ______.
| A．read the literature of the country |
| B．read books and reports |
| C．do their work better |
| D．go to foreign countries |
Learning a foreign language is a hard job ______.
| A．only for scientists and doctors |
| B．only for the students at school |
| C．for those people at home |
| D．for most people |