How do you address(称呼) people in English when you want to talk to them? The following may be some simple rules the beginners should follow.
1. When talking to strangers there is often no special form of address in English. Usually, if you want to catch the attention of a stranger it is necessary to use such phrases as “Excuse me”.
2. In British English “Sir” and “Madam” are considered to be too formal(正式) for most situations. They are used mostly to customers(顾客) in shops or restaurants. While in American English “Sir” and “Madam” are not so formal and are commonly used between strangers, especially with older people whose names you don’t know.
3. When you talk to some people you know, you can use their names. If you are friends, use their first names; if your relationship is more formal, use “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “Ms”, etc, before their family names.
4. There are many other forms of address which can be used between friends and strangers. However, many of these are limited in use. For example, “pal” and “mate” can be used between strangers, but are usually only used by men talking to other men.According to the passage, “Excuse me” is mainly used to ______.
A.address a person you don’t know | B.apologize to others |
C.catch the attention of a stranger | D.suggest good manners |
If John Smith is your best friend, according to the passage you should often call him ______.
A.John | B.Smith | C.Mr. John | D.Mr. Smith |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.“Sir” and “Madam” are used more often in America than in England. |
B.People often use “Mr.”, “Mrs.” or “Ms” before the first names of those people who they don’t know very well. |
C.“Pal” and “mate” are usually only used between men. |
D.While addressing friends, people just use their first names |
The passage is most likely taken from an English _______.
A.textbook | B.card | C.storybook | D.grammar book |
People are being lured (引诱)onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they’re paying for it by giving up large amounts of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.
Most Facebook users don’t realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they’re paying for Facebook because people don’t really know what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook—you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things— your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default (默认)to be shared with everyone on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don’t share information, they have a “less satisfying experience”.
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they’re online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites.“I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them,” Schrage admits.
I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it’s only the beginning, which is why I’m considering deactivating(撤销)my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I’m upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don’t know. That’s too high a price to pay.What do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph?
A.It is a website that sends messages to targeted users. |
B.It makes money by putting on advertisements. |
C.It profits by selling its users’ personal data. |
D.It provides loads of information to its users. |
What does the author say about most Facebook users?
A.They are reluctant to give up their personal information. |
B.They don’t know their personal data enriches Facebook. |
C.They don’t identify themselves when using the website. |
D.They care very little about their personal information. |
Why does Senator Charles Schumer propose?
A.Setting guidelines for advertising on websites. |
B.Banning the sharing of users’ personal information. |
C.Working out regulations for social-networking sites. |
D.Removing ads from all social-networking sites. |
Why does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account?
A.He is dissatisfied with its current service. |
B.He finds many of its users untrustworthy. |
C.He doesn’t want his personal data to be used in a wrong way. |
D.He is upset by its frequent rule changes. |
![]() HOW TO BOOK ![]() Call Ticketmaster 24 hr Booking Line on 0844 847 2484 ![]() www.PalaceandOperaHouse.org.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk ![]() The Palace Theatre Ticket Centre, Oxford Street. Manchester, Ml 6FT (Mon Sat 10am-8pm) ![]() Stating the performance and choice of seats ,enclosing(附寄)a cheque , postal order ,or your credit card details to The Palace Theatre Ticket Centre , Oxford Street , Manchester , Ml 6FT . Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. |
![]() Join Live Nation’s Card for just £30 a year and enjoy a whole range of discounts and benefits .You’ll save money from the first time you use your Live Card—not just on tickets ,but on programmes and reduced booking fees . Live Card members often join the audience on opening nights or enjoy generous discounts throughout the run of a show. Call 0844 499 6699 to join Live Card today. ![]() By getting together as a group of 10 or more you can save money on tickets for your favourite shows. Group bookers benefit from a direct free telephone booking line, and don’t pay booking fees .Invitations to parties and book-now-pay-later programmes are all part of our great service to group bookers. Join the hundreds of people already taking advantage of our group booking. Call 0800 587 5007 to talk to one of our group booking assistants about your group visit to the Palace Theatre or Opera House. For further information please call 0161 245 6609. |
If you want to join Live Card to save money on tickets, you can call________.
A.0844 847 2484 | B.0800 587 5007 |
C.0844 499 6699 | D.0161 245 6609 |
How can you pay for a ticket when you book by post?
A.By visiting the website of a post office. |
B.By going to your local bank in person. |
C.By enclosing your Live Card in an envelope. |
D.By providing your credit card information. |
What benefit can group bookers enjoy according to the text?
A.Delayed payment for tickets. | B.Invitations to opening nights. |
C.Reduced booking fees by phone | D.Generous discounts on tickets. |
Anne Whitney, a sophomore (大学二年级学生) at Colorado State University, first had a problem taking tests when she began college. "I was always well prepared for my tests. Sometimes I studied for weeks before a test. Yet I would go in to take the test, only to find I could not answer the questions correctly. I would blank out because of nervousness and fear. I couldn't think of the answer. My low grades on the tests did not show what I knew to the teacher. “Another student in biology had similar experiences. He said, "My first chemistry test was very difficult. Then, on the second test, I sat down to take it, and I was so nervous that I was shaking. My hands were moving up and down so quickly that it was hard to hold my pencil. I knew the material and I knew the answers. Yet I couldn't even write them down!"
These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and is uneasy about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. Contrary to people’s common belief that poor grades are often a result of poor study habits, sometimes test anxiety plays a role in students’ achieving low grades. Recently, test anxiety has been recognized as a real problem, not just an excuse or a false explanation of lazy students.
Special university advising courses try to help students. In these courses, advisors try to help students by teaching them how to manage test anxiety. At some universities, students take tests to measure their anxiety. If the tests show their anxiety is high, the students can take short courses to help them deal with their tensions. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. Students are trained to become calm in very tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work at ease. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.
An expert at the University of California explains, " With almost all students, relaxation and less stress are felt after taking our program. Most of them experience better control during their tests. Almost all have some improvement. With some, the improvement is very great. "To "blank out" is probably______.
A.to be like a blanket | B.to be sure of an answer |
C.to be unable to think clearly | D.to show knowledge to the teacher |
Poor grades are usually believed to be the result of______.
A.poor sleeping habit | B.laziness |
C.test anxiety | D.inability to form good study habits |
Test anxiety has been recognized as______.
A.an excuse for laziness | B.the result of poor study habits |
C.a real problem | D.something that cannot be changed |
A University of California advisor said______.
A.all students could overcome the anxiety after taking a special test anxiety program |
B.almost all students felt less stress after taking a University of California advising course |
C.students found it difficult to improve even though they had taken a special test anxiety course |
D.students found it easy to relax as soon as they entered a University of California advising course |
We’re so well educated – but we’re useless students who have lost the ability to do anything practical. The only thing we’ve mastered is consumption(消费).
Large numbers of students have entered higher education in the past 10 years, but despite being the most educated generation in history, it seems that we’ve grown increasingly ignorant when it comes to basic life skills.
Looking back on my first couple of weeks of living in student halls, I consider myself lucky to still be alive. Unfamiliar to fresher’s, there are many hidden dangers in the dirty corners of students accommodation.
I have survived a couple of serious boiling egg incidents and lots of cases of food – poisoning, probably from dirty kitchen counters. Although some of my clothes have fallen victim to ironing experimentation, I think I have now finally acquired all the domestic (居家的) skills I missed out in my modem education.
In 2006 and 2010, the charming educationist Sir Ken Robinson gave two very amusing talks in which he discussed the importance of creativity in education. Robinson’s main viewpoint is that our current education system dislocates people from their natural talents. I would like to go a step further and propose that besides our talents, the system takes away what used to be passed from generation to generation – a working knowledge of basic life skills.
Today’s graduates may have earned themselves honor in history, law or economies, but when it comes to simple things like putting up a shelf to hold all their academic books, or fixing a hole in their on – trend clothes, they have to call for help from a professional handyman or tailor.
Since the invention of the internet, it has never been easier for people to access information, but our highly specialized education has made us more one – sided than ever.
I suggest that we start with the immediate reintroduction of some of the most vital aspects of “domestic science” education, before the current lack leads to serious accidents in student halls.People call us useless students for the reason that .
A.what we’ve learned is beyond consumption |
B.we are educated generation |
C.we’ve entered higher education |
D.our living skills are so poor |
Which is NOT the incidents the writer had during the first few weeks in student halls?
A.He was seriously burnt by boiled eggs. |
B.He was accidentally poisoned by food. |
C.He damaged his clothes while ironing. |
D.He was severely beaten by fresher. |
According to Robinson’s opinion, our current education.
A.focuses on the importance if creativity |
B.dislocates people from their natural talents |
C.has equipped students with basic life skills |
D.has followed the convention properly |
For most people, graduation is an exciting day – the culmination (顶点) of years of hard work. My graduation day... was not.
I remember that weekend two years ago, Family and friends had traveled far to watch our class walk across the stage. But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched the economy go from bad to worse during my senior year. We graduates had degrees, but very limited prospects (前景). I hadn’t secured a job, and I knew that the next day, when my lease (租约) ended, I would no longer have a place to call home.
The weeks ahead weren’t easy. I gathered up everything I couldn’t carry and put it into storage. Then, because I had no opportunities in my small university town, I packed up my car and drove to California to find work. But what I thought would take a week dragged into two, then four, and 100 job applications later, I found myself still jobless. The due date to begin paying back my student loans was creeping even closer.
Have you ever felt utter dread? That feeling became a constant in my life. The most frustrating part was no matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t seem to make any progress.
So what did I do to maintain my sanity? I wrote. Something about putting my words on a page made everything clearer. Something about writing gave me hope.
I channeled my frustration into a children’s book. Beyond the river was the story of an unlikely hero, a little fish who refused to give up.
And then one day, with no writing degree or contacts in the writing world – just hard work and perseverance – I was offered a publishing contract for my first book. After that, things were in place, I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with the Walt Disney Company and was hired shortly after.
The moral of this story is… don’t give up, even if things look bleak now. Two years ago I was drinking cold soup right out the can. Things change. All we need is the courage to push beyond the river. When it was time to graduate, the author felt _____.
A.Bored | B.Relieved | C.depressed | D.hopeful |
After the author’s graduation, _____.
A.he went on a short trip with his family to California |
B.things turned even worse than he had expected |
C.he focused on writing instead of applying for jobs |
D.he found his salary was hardly enough to pay back his student loans |
When did the author’s career life begin to run smoothly according to the article?
A.After he got his first publishing contract. |
B.After he began to write his book Beyond the river. |
C.After he finished his book Beyond the river. |
D.After he got hired by the Walt Disney Company. |
What is the main message the story intends to convey?
A.Opportunity lies everywhere. |
B.Perseverance is essential to success. |
C.It’s important to adapt yourself to society. |
D.We should devote ourselves to whatever we do. |