If English is not your first language, it is a good idea to take English language classes to improve your written and spoken communication skills. There are many ways to learn English. You can learn from a book, a DVD, on the Internet or by attending classes. One of the most successful ways to improve your English is to join a course in a country where English is widely spoken. The more you practice, the more you will learn. But why learn the English language? English is an important language for anyone who is planning to travel or become involved in business.
Many people love travelling, but if their English is poor, it can be difficult to understand signs, read directions and make themselves understood. Before travelling, it is important to understand the culture and customs of the places you visit. Learning basic English before you travel will help you to understand these customs and avoid mistakes that could be embarrassing. When you are travelling, you will also enjoy meeting new people. If you can speak English, you will have a better chance of being able to communicate with the people you meet. Many of your new friends will speak English and others will have English as a second language. Without English, your friendships will be limited as you travel around the world.
If you are involved in business, it is important to be able to communicate in English. The Internet, world travel and modern communication systems have made the world seem like a much smaller place. These days business people interact with customers and other business people from all over the world. That makes your English language skills more important than ever. There are many English language courses that major in business communications. Improving your English skills is one of the best things you could ever do to increase your chances of business success.What kind of people is English important to according to the passage?
| A．Travelers. | B．Teachers. | C．Students. | D．Language experts. |
Which of the following is the best way to learn English well?
| A．Travelling around the world with English-speakers. |
| B．Taking a course in an English-speaking country. |
| C．Learning from all kinds of books or DVDs. |
| D．Learning on the Internet by yourselves. |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the aim of learning basic English?
| A．To research the causes of cultural differences. |
| B．To understand the customs of your destination. |
| C．To avoid embarrassing mistakes on your journey. |
| D．To have more opportunities to communicate with others. |
What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
| A．The more you practice, the more you will learn. |
| B．Doing business helps to improve your communication skills. |
| C．English is important for anyone who is involved in business. |
| D．The Internet has made the world become smaller and smaller. |
We can infer from the passage that _____.
| A．learning English well will make you achieve goals more easily |
| B．learning English only aims at achieving business success |
| C．without learning English, your friendships will be limited wherever you are |
| D．you needn’t learn English if you don’t want to travel |
Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego(UCSD) for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, “Versed”.
“I’m delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win,” said Armantrout.
“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising.”
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University. She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for “Versed.”
“This book has gotten more attention,” Armantrout said, “but I don’t feel as if it’s better.”
The first half of “Versed” focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq. The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not. “Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry,” said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
“Versed”, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2,700 copies. The new edition is scheduled to appear in May. According to Rae Armantrout, ____________.
| A．her 10th book is much better |
| B．her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected |
| C．the media is surprised at her works |
| D．she likes being recognized by her readers |
Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?
| A．She published a poetry textbook. |
| B．She used to teach Denise Levertov. |
| C．She started a poets’ group with others. |
| D．She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley. |
What can we learn about “Versed”?
| A．It consists of three parts. |
| B．It is mainly about the American army. |
| C．It is a book published two decades ago |
| D．It partly concerns the poet’s own life. |
What can we learn from the text?
A. About 2,700 copies of “Versed” will be printed.
B. Cancer made Armantrout stop writing.
C. Armantrout got her degrees at UCSD.
D. “Versed” has been awarded twice.
Young women are more adventurous than young men when travelling abroad in gap years．One in three female backpackers visits more than three countries during a year out and travels alone, according to new research．
By contrast, the majority of their male counterparts（地位相当者） visit only one country and tend to travel in groups, says a survey by the Gap Year company, which provides information and services for students considering taking a year out．
More women than men say that their prime reason for taking time off is to see the world and experience different cultures．Men are more likely to rank “having fun” higher on their list of priorities．Women are more likely to value the challenge of a foreign trip, and many cited reasons such as learning a language and meeting new people．
The more adventurous gap years taken by women seem to work to their benefit; more than three quarters of those surveyed have reported increased confidence, self-reliance（自立） and independence, whereas only half of the men had that experience．
The research also shows that women are more likely to do voluntary work while travelling, with more than one in ten helping with teaching or development projects．One of the reasons given for this is a wish to see the country in an authentic light．
A greater proportion of women than men face objections or criticism from their families over their gapyear plans．Among the men surveyed, lack of money is the main barrier to travel．
Carolyn Martin, a doctor from London,is a typically confident female traveller．Starting in Cape Town, she travelled around southern Africa and Australia with a string of unusual and sometimes dangerous jobs．
“I had one job chasing elephants off the runway in Africa by banging a stick against a pan，” she recalled．“It was OK but one day I did get chased by one．”
She said that she had travelled alone because “you meet more people”．By referring to “gap year” the writer means ________．
| A．a gap you come across after leaving high school |
| B．a time when you are caught in a dilemma between work and study |
| C．a period after you find a job upon your graduation from college |
| D．a year off between high school and college for certain purposes |
In the third paragraph, the underlined word “priorities” most probably means ________
| A．selections | B．attractions | C．preferences | D．projects |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Men students will travel less during the gap year because of their part-time jobs． |
| B．Women students will travel more but face more objections． |
| C．The article suggests that women travelling alone will have dangerous experiences． |
| D．Men students prefer to travel inside their own country to going abroad． |
Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Girls Get the Best out of Gap Years |
| B．Boys Lack Courage in Gap Years |
| C．For Fun or for Adventure? |
| D．Young Women Are More Adventurous |
2011 TEEN TRIP TO THE LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY
For Teens Currently in 6th to 12th Grades
LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY -- Class # 8389
Saturday, February 12, 2011
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Meet at THE UNDERGROUND (Veteran's Building -- 2203 Central Avenue)
Cost per person: $50 ($60 after January 22, 2011) Includes Lunch, Admission and Transportation
With a 4,000 sq. Ft. day-use lodge, the Leland High Snow Play has a huge supply of tubes to choose from, along with awesome tows (拖车) that will tow you up to the top of the hill! Our varied terrains (地形) have something for everyone, while the lodge provides a snack bar, video games, pool tables, five indoor rest rooms, a warm fire, and a sun deck with plenty of tables and chairs overlooking the play area outside. ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FORM REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP.
Be sure to bring warm clothing and prepare for the cold, but dress in layers in case it warms up. Wear dry boots, socks, and sunscreen. If possible, bring a mobile phone in case of emergency, as well as money for snacks and a light dinner: or bring your own food and drinks.
Meet at The Underground (Veteran's Building -- 2203 Central Avenue) -- don't be late!
Do not bring electronic or fragile items during the trip. The ARPD is not responsible for your personal belongings or money. REFUNDS ARE ISSUED ONLY IF THE ARPD CANCELS THIS TRIP DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Click here to download "2011 Leland High Snow Play" flyers and the registration form (PDF, 261KB)
Click here to download "Leland High Snow Play Liability Form" (PDF, 14KB)
1. You may register in person, or mail the completed form to Leland High Snow Play, Inc.
Send the liability form and payment to the ARPD Office, 2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, 94501.
2. Faxed registration and liability forms accepted with MasterCard/VISA, (510) 747--7566.
3. Online registrations available at www.arpdeplay.com. Make sure you bring your completed liability form on the trip.The purpose of the text is to ________.
| A．explain the details of a school activity |
| B．introduce a famous tour agency |
| C．urge teenagers to climb a snowy mountain |
| D．advertise a trip to the Leland High Snow Play |
People who want to take part in the activity need to ________.
| A．pay for dinner themselves | B．climb the hill themselves |
| C．wear hats to protect themselves from the sun | D．pay for tows individually |
From the text we can infer that ________.
| A．the weather at the hill is changeable |
| B．the activity is very dangerous |
| C．12-year-old children are not allowed on the trip |
| D．the trip will involve outdoor activities only. |
To save money people should ________.
| A．climb the hills instead of taking tows |
| B．bring extra clothing |
| C．register for the activity before January 22 |
| D．register on the Internet after January 22 |
In a little-known part of the counter-terrorism（反恐怖主义） world, one of the most effective detection systems is a 600-pound animal that works for about 20 pounds of fish a day.
Since the 1960s, the United States and a handful of other countries have trained dolphins and sea lions to detect sea mines and swimmers, to recover inert torpedoes（鱼雷）and to test objects used in Naval exercises.
Program officials estimate that the sea lions in the Marine Mammal Program have recovered millions of dollars of U.S. Naval torpedoes and instrumentation dropped on the sea floor.
The U.S. Navy kept its Marine Mammal Program a secret until the 1990s, and this spring CNN became one of only a handful of media outlets to see firsthand how the program works.
The program has trained about 75 Pacific bottlenose dolphins, with natural biosonar (生物声纳) that tracks better than any manmade device; and 35 California sea lions, with superb underwater eyesight.
Not only do these trained marine mammals track and retrieve millions of dollars in U. S. military equipment, they are also helping to save lives.
The Navy won't disclose whether the dolphins and sea lions have effectively intercepted （阻拦）terrorists attempting to do harm to any U.S. facilities.
"Either way, it serves as a deterrent（阻碍） effect." says Christian Harris, operations supervisor for the program. The mammals can be deployed（调动） via C-130 cargo aircraft to perform their missions anywhere in the world within 72 hours. They have been used in exercises from Alaska to Hawaii, operating in great temperature and environmental ranges. They also have the capability to operate off vessels.
Dolphins most recently were deployed in the Iraq war, performing mine detection and clearance operations in the Persian Gulf to ensure safe passage for humanitarian ships delivering aid. Some of these Iraq war "veterans" are now back home, tasked with a new mission: guarding nuclear submarines in their homeports of Bremerton, Washington, and Groton, Connecticut.The underlined word "retrieve" in Paragraph 6 can be replaced by ________.
| A．find out | B．recover | C．save | D．detect |
Which is NOT the purpose of the Marine Mammal Program?
| A．To detect sea mines and swimmers. |
| B．To save lives of people. |
| C．To recover inert torpedoes. |
| D．To help the U.S. Naval test equipment. |
What can be inferred according to the text?
| A．These trained marine mammals eat pounds of fish a day. |
| B．The U.S. Navy performed the Marine Mammal Program for about 30 years secretly. |
| C．These mammals can carry out a task everywhere. |
| D．A lot of countries will train dolphins and sea lions for anti-terrorism. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．The Special Skills of Marine Mammals | B．The U.S. Anti-terrorism Program |
| C．Exceptional Anti-terrorism Member | D．Trained Marine Mammals |
Everyone knows about straight-A students．We see them frequently in TV situation comedies and in movies like Revenge（报复）of the Nerds．They get high grades, all right, but only by becoming dull laborers, their noses always stuck in a book．They are not good at social communication and look clumsy while doing sports．
How, then, do we account for Domenica Roman or Paul Melendres?
Roman is on the tennis team at Fairmont Senior High School．She also sings in the choral group, serves on the student council and is a member of the mathematics society．For two years she has maintained A’s in every subject．Melendres, a freshman at the University of New Mexico, was student-body president at Valley High School in Albuquerque．He played soccer and basketball well, exhibited at the science fair, and meanwhile worked as a reporter on a local television station．Being a speech giver at the graduation ceremony, he achieved straight A’s in his regular classes, plus bonus points for A’s in two college-level courses．
How do super-achievers like Roman and Melendres do it? Brains aren’t the only answer．“Top grades don’t always go to the brightest students, ” declares Herbert Walberg, a professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has conducted major studies on super-achieving students．“Knowing how to make the most of your innate（天生的）abilities counts for more．Much more．”
In fact, Walberg says, students with high IQ sometimes don’t do as well as classmates with lower IQ．For them, learning comes too easily and they never find out how to get down．
Hard work isn’t the whole story, either．“It’s not how long you sit there with the books open, ” said one of the many-A students we interviewed．“It’s what you do while you’re sitting．” Indeed, some of these students actually put in fewer hours of homework time than their lower-scoring classmates．
The kids at the top of the class get there by mastering a few basic techniques that others can readily learn．The underlined word “nerds” can probably be．
| A．dull bookworms lacking sports and social skills |
| B．successful top students popular with their peers |
| C．students with certain learning difficulties |
| D．born leaders crazy about social activities |
What can we conclude from the first paragraph?
| A．Most TV programs and films are about straight-A students． |
| B．People have unfavorable impression on straight-A students． |
| C．Everyone knows about straight-A students from TV or films． |
| D．Straight-A students are well admired by people in the society． |
Some students become super-achievers mainly because．
| A．they are born cleverer than others | B．they work longer hours at study |
| C．they make full use of their abilities | D．they know the shortcut to success |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．IQ is more important than hard work in study． |
| B．The brightest students can never get low grades． |
| C．Top students certainly achieve all-around developments． |
| D．Students with average IQ can become super-achievers． |