Teenagers in England do much the same as children in America do. They enjoy sending messages by their mobile phones and they also like swimming, listening to the latest music, watching TV and surfing the Internet.
How do teenagers in England spend their free time and holidays? Let’s follow Sally, a British teenager, and spend five days with her during her school holiday.
Day One
After breakfast, Sally’s mother went out and left her alone at home. She checked her mobile phone during lunch —one of her friends sent her a message early in the morning. Dinner was at 6:30 p.m. After that, she finished her English home-work. Then she surfed the Internet.
Day Two
Sally and her mother paid a visit to their friends and went swimming together. Later, they went shopping for clothes and books, and had dinner in a restaurant.
Day Three
She went to the supermarket with her mother to buy fish and chips for lunch as well as some pens. After she got back home, she spent the next few hours surfing the Internet and watching TV.
Day Four
She surfed the Internet. Her mother took her out for lunch before she went to work. She then read stories after lunch.
Day Five
She woke up at 2 p.m., and so did her mother. They went to a park. Her mother met some friends there. When they got home, it was already time for dinner. Afterwards, she did her homework until 10 p.m.When did Sally do her homework?
A.In the morning. | B.In the afternoon. |
C.At lunch time. | D.In the evening. |
Sally and her mother went shopping again to buy __________.
A.food for lunch and pens | B.some books and pens |
C.some fish and clothes | D.food and books |
Which of the following things did Sally do on Day Four?
A.She went swimming. | B.She went out for breakfast. |
C.She read books. | D.She went shopping. |
How many times did Sally and her mother meet their friends during the five days?
A.Once. | B.Twice. | C.Three times. | D.Four times. |
According to the passage, it can be inferred that ________.
A.a park is the best place to meet a friend |
B.parents shouldn’t leave teenagers alone at home |
C.teenagers don’t usually do their homework during their school holidays |
D.surfing the Internet has become an important part of teenagers’ lives |
In Europe, many people make friends across the borders between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become “twins” with sister city relationship.
Their citizens find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary citizens travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away.
Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany.
Some towns even arrange exchange visits for theatre groups, choirs(合唱团)and orchestras ( 管弦乐队). Others send lecturers to the twin town who tell the people there all about their own town , and show photos and slides.
Town twining can help make friends and motivate(促进) people to learn from each other. It helps students to improve their language skills, and it contributes to (有助于)strengthening peace and understanding between different nations.Which is the best title for the passage?
A.Town Twinning |
B.Friendly Towns |
C.Exchange Teachers and Students |
D.Peace and Understanding |
Twin towns develop ________.
A.between European countries and China |
B.in the English-speaking countries only |
C.in the same country |
D.between different countries in Europe |
One of the advantages of town twinning is __________.
A.to earn more money |
B.to set up schools |
C.to improve students language skills |
D.to develop industry and agriculture |
There are many traditions around the holidays. “Holiday traditions” are things that people do every year during a holiday such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. At Christmas, for example, many people put up a Christmas tree or Christmas lights. These are Christmas traditions that have been going on for many years. But there is a “new” Christmas tradition that has become very popular: the TV firelog, a TV channel that shows nothing but a large log fire, blazing in a fireplace.
People put it on their TV and it makes them feel like they are watching and listening to a crackling fire. It makes them feel calm and comfortable. The origin(起源) dates back to 1986 in Canada. At that time, not very many people knew about it or watched the channel. Today, more than three million people watch the firelog channel during the winter holiday season. That year, the firelog channel was created(创造) to give the workers in the company that is now called Shaw Cable, a break at Christmas. By running the firelog during the holidays, everyone could go home for a few days and enjoy a bit of time off.
At that time, it was only broadcast to people in Edmonton but today it reaches people across Canada and beyond. This year, the Shaw firelog was updated. It is pretty high tech. Although it’s still really just a fire log that has been filmed, it has its own Twitter account (@ShawFireLog), its own Facebook page and it even has a computer App so you can see the burning log on a smartphone or a tablet. The Shaw firelog will burn until Jan. 5 on Shaw Cable, channel 222.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A.The origin and popularity of the TV firelog. |
B.Famous holiday traditions. |
C.What makes the TV firelog so popular. |
D.The TV firelog today. |
What does the underlined words “the TV firelog” mean in Paragraph 1?
A.It is an old Christmas tradition beginning a long time ago. |
B.It is a TV channel that shows nothing but a fireplace. |
C.It is a TV channel with all kinds of Christmas traditional programs. |
D.It is a TV channel where people can watch a large log fire. |
For what purpose was the TV firelog created?
A.To attract more people to watch their programs. |
B.To make people feel calm and comfortable by watching a crackling fire. |
C.To give the people working at the company a few days off at Christmas. |
D.To create more new traditions for people to celebrate Christmas. |
What can we learn about the TV firelog from the passage?
A.More than three million people watched the channel in 1986. |
B.It was broadcast to people in Edmonton and across Canada when it first started. |
C.It has its own Twitter account but no Facebook page now. |
D.The burning of the firelog will last until Jan. 5 on Shaw Cable. |
A family in Guelph, Ontario is spending a year living “in 1982”. They’re doing it so their kids can see what life was like before technology like iPads, computers and even coffee machines was part of everyday life.
They have stopped using all technology from their home and are relying on the things people would have used back in the 80s. There is a box at the front door where people can put their cell phones in, while they’re visiting the family.
Blair McMillan and his wife Morgan want their kids—Trey, 5, and Denton, 2—to have a year without technology.
Instead of reading e-readers, they are reading books. Instead of using a GPS, they used paper maps. The home the family is living in was built in the 1980s. Even the way they dress and style their hair is from the 80s.
The whole idea started when young Trey was called to come outside. He didn’t because he was busy playing on the ipad. That’s why his dad thought of the idea of living “in 1982” for a year. The family plans to live like “it’s 1982” until April next year. To them, one of the hardest things was giving up their cell phone.What will the visitors do when they come to see the family?
A.The way they dress and style their hair must be from the 80s. |
B.They must leave their cell phone at home. |
C.They will put their cell phone outside before entering the room. |
D.They can use the phone prepared by the family. |
What is mainly talked about in the fourth paragraph?
A.Dos and don’ts. |
B.Reasons and results. |
C.Advantages and disadvantages. |
D.Advice and plans. |
Who made the family have the idea of living “in 1982”?
A.The reporter. | B.Young Trey. |
C.Blair McMillan. | D.Morgan. |
DCU·LS is the English Language Training Center of Dublin City University. Our courses are designed for adults (18+). We offer a lot of English language courses throughout the year in addition to special programmes in summer. Our school proudly has the same high standards which have gained Dublin City University a national and international reputation(名声) for the excellence of its courses. Recognized by Department of Education as an English language school for the teaching of English as a foreign language. DCU·LS offers you a friendly atmosphere in which you can improve your English skills. Because we are a university based company, we also offer our students ways to university facilities(设备).
For more information please contact(联系):
DCU Language Services, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland
Tel: +353 1 705552
Fax: +353 1 70511
Email: Is.elt @ dcu.ie
Web: www.dculs.dcu.ieWho can take part in the courses offered by DCU·LS ?
A.Teenagers. | B.Adults over 18. |
C.College students. | D.English teachers. |
What can we learn about DCU·LS according to the passage?
A.They offer special programmes throughout the year. |
B.We can contact it by writing letters as well as sending emails and fax. |
C.The school is famous for its excellent courses both at home and abroad. |
D.DCU·LS lies in Dublin City University, Dublin 9, England. |
What kind of writing is this passage?
A.A traveling guide | B.A notice |
C.An official report | D.An advertisement |
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, hurt many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people hurt many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.People who are unhappy _______.
A.always consider things differently from others |
B.always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
C.usually misunderstand what others think or say |
D.usually are affected by the results of certain things |
The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “_______”.
A.make others unhappy |
B.have a good taste with social life |
C.tend to scold others openly |
D.enjoy the pleasure of life |
We can conclude from the passage that _______.
A.we should pity all such unhappy people |
B.such unhappy people are dangerous to social life |
C.people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
D.unhappy people can not understand happy persons |
If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should _______.
A.show no respect and politeness to them |
B.prevent any communication with them |
C.persuade them to recognize the bad effects |
D.quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes |