British English and American English
A student is studying British English. He wonders: Can I have a talk with Americans? Can they catch me? Learners of English often ask--what are the differences between British English and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly, there are some differences between British English and American English. There are a few differences in grammar（语法）. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans “in the hospital” and “Do you have a pen?” Pronunciation (发音) is sometimes different. Americans usually sound the “r” in words like “car”and “farm”. Some speakers of British English do not sound the “r” in these words. There are differences between British English and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour”and “honour” are British English spellings. “Color” and “honor” are American English spellings.
These differences are in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary. However, they are not important. For the most part, British English and American English are the same language.In American English, we can say, “ ? ”
| A．Have you a new book |
| B．Do you have a new book |
| C．Are you have a new book |
| D．Can you to have a new book |
Between British English and American English, sometimes pronunciation is .
| A．poor | B．different | C．high | D．short |
In American English, the word “favourite”can be spelt .
| A．favoruite | B．favurite | C．favorite | D．favrite |
Englishmen say “in hospital”, while Americans say .
| A．at the hospital | B．in the hospital |
| C．by hospital | D．to hospital |
The main idea of the passage is that .
| A．there are no differences between British English and American English |
| B．British English and American English are two different languages |
| C．speakers of British English and American English speak the same language |
| D．we shouldn't speak English |
There are some easy things you can do to protect(保护) the environment and the earth. Choose ideas from the list or come up with a few of your own.
●Plant flowers, grass or trees.
●Whenever you visit a park or beach, take away what you bring there----keep rubbish in a bag until you can put it in a dustbin (垃圾箱).
●Turn off the lights, TV sets when you leave the room. This saves (节约)a lot of electricity.
●Turn off the tap (水笼头)when you brush your teeth. You can save some water by not letting it run. Also, use a glass cup instead of a paper cup because this saves paper.
●Keep the doors and windows closed in winter to keep warm air in.
●Give your old books and magazines to a library instead of throwing them away.
●Give your old clothes to poor children you know instead of throwing them away.
●Use both sides of paper.
●Stop pouring (倒)dirty water into the rivers or the lakes nearby (附近).
●Encourage all your friends to do the same things you do to help protect the earth.
You don’t have to wait until Earth Day to do these things. Make every day Earth Day.
If everyone makes a contribution (贡献)to protecting the environment, the world will become much more beautiful. From the above, we know that this is ____________.
| A．a sign | B．a notice |
| C．an advertisement | D．a proposal (提议) |
The writer tells us _____________.
| A．to throw rubbish into a dustbin |
| B．to pour dirty water into the river |
| C．to save water by letting it run while we are brushing our teeth |
| D．that we can’t do all these things until Earth Day |
We can ___________to save paper.
| A．use a paper cup | B．use both sides of paper |
| C．give old books to a library | D．pick up waste paper at school |
. Which of the following is WRONG according to the writer?
| A．Turn off the lights when you leave the room. |
| B．Close the doors in winter. |
| C．Use a paper cup when you brush your teeth. |
| D．Give your old clothes to the poor children. |
The main idea of this passage is how to _________.
| A．save money | B．save water and electricity |
| C．make better use of old things | D．protect the earth |
You either have it, or you don’t — a sense (感觉) of direction, that is. But why is it that some people could find their way across the Sahara without a map, while others can lose themselves in the next street?
Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction, but it is not properly understood how it works. One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it. Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it, we lose it.
“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around,” says Jim Martland, Research Director of the project. “However, if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car, they never develop the skills.”
Jim Martland also emphasizes (强调) that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction. He makes the following suggestions:
◆ If you are using a map, turn it so it relates to the way you are facing.
◆ If you leave your bike in a strange place, put it near something like a big stone or a tree. Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike. When you return, go back along the same route.
◆ Simplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town, streams, or walls in the countryside to guide you. Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which can help to find out where you are.
Now you need never get lost again! Scientists believe that .
| A．people never lose their sense of direction |
| B．some babies are born with a sense of direction |
| C．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older |
| D．everybody owned a sense of direction from birth |
What is TRUE of seven-year-old children according to the passage?
| A．They never have a sense of direction without maps. |
| B．They have a sense of direction and can find their way around. |
| C．They should never be allowed out alone if they lack a sense of direction. |
| D．They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car. |
If you leave your bike in a strange place, you should .
| A．tie it to a tree so as to stop it from being stolen |
| B．remember something easily known on the route |
| C．draw a map of the route to help remember where it is |
| D．stay away from taking the same route when you come back to it |
According to the passage, the best way to find your way around is to .
| A．ask policemen for directions |
| B．count the number of landmarks that you see |
| C．use walls, streams, and streets to guide yourself |
| D．remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs |
Where can you probably read this passage?
| A．In the newspaper. | B．In an ad. |
| C．In a storybook. | D．In a novel (小说). |
On the way back from work every evening, more often than not there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway (快车道). He looked to be in his late 40s but was probably a lot younger. He had shoulder length straight black hair and a short beard.
Every day after work I would remember to gather any spare change, and put it aside to give to him if I saw him. A feeling of joy would come over me every time I saw him, while coming off the ramp (坡道). So did he. Sometimes the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His answer would always be the same, “I’m blessed!”
Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid off. For the rest of that day all I could think of was “how am I going to provide for my kids as a mother, how am I going to pay rent?”
Needless to say that on my way home that day I was very sad and upset. I didn’t remember to look for my spare change and keep it ready like I usually did. Yet there he was as always, as I turned the ramp. He set his eyes on me, while still smiling and waving at others as usual.
While I was waiting for the red light to turn, he strolled (闲逛) over to my car. He had a big smile. He looked at me straight in the eyes and said, “Today I will give you a dollar.” He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill.
You see that day he taught me a valuable lesson more than a dollar bill. No matter what material things are taken from you, no one can take away your choice to be joyful. Every time I’m faced with challenges, I think of the homeless man’s valuable lesson and remember that I am blessed. The writer would have a short conversation with the homeless man when.
| A．she waited for the red light to turn |
| B．she gave spare change to him |
| C．she had a good time that day |
| D．she wanted to know how he lived |
Why did the writer feel sad and upset after out of the boss’s office?
| A．Because she was criticized by the boss. |
| B．Because a new job was offered to her. |
| C．Because she was laid off by the boss. |
| D．Because there was something wrong with her job. |
What is NOT true about the homeless man from the passage?
| A．He would be seen at the exit of the freeway. |
| B．He usually smiled and waved at others. |
| C．He had a deep impression on the writer. |
| D．He felt joyful only when money was offered to him. |
The homeless man gave the writer a dollar because .
| A．he had collected a lot of money |
| B．he wanted to pay back her |
| C．he knew what she experienced |
| D．he wanted her to be happy |
The writer learned from the story that .
| A．a dollar bill will be enough to make you happy |
| B．each of us has been blessed all the time |
| C．whenever it is, we should choose to help others |
| D．it is more than money that brings us happiness |
Uniforms, used for identifying people，are seen almost everywhere in the world. They are a part of everyday life. Let’s look at some of the reasons why people wear uniforms and the types of people that wear uniforms.
Many children have to wear a uniform at school. Boys and girls must wear the same coloured clothes and a school tie. There is often a school badge on the jacket or shirt. There are many reasons for having a school uniforms .Firstly, the uniforms shows that the children attend the same school . It is important for children to feel they belong to a school and that they identify with their school. Secondly, the uniform makes it easy for other people to tell which school the children go to . They know they must be on their best behaviour because people know which school they go to and the children are proud of their school. Thirdly, school uniforms are comfortable,smart clothing. Finally, it is cheaper for parents to buy one set of clothes for their child. Most parents cannot afford to buy lots of expensive, fashionable clothes for their children.
"Uncle Sam," is usually used to refer to the United States or the US government. It is the nickname of the country.It is hard to believe that this nickname became known quite by accident and there was a man 75 "Uncle Sam."However,not many people have ever heard of such a man.Not even most young Americans.
The man was called Uncle Sam Wilson.He was born inArlington,Massachusetts, September 13, 1776. At the age of 14 Sam joined the American Revolutionary War(美国革命）, and 76 in the army under George Washington until the end of the war.He then moved toTroy,New Yorkstates, and began a meatpacking business. He earned a reputation（赢得了声誉）for being honest and hardworking. He was locally respected and admired, thus greeted as Uncle Sam.
One day in 1812,a group of visitors came to Sam's meatpacking plant(肉类加工厂）.Among them was Government official. He 77 the capitalized letters(大写字母） EAUS on the packages of meat and asked what they stood for. A worker man replied that EA stood for Elbert Anderson,the businessman for whom Sam was working.And he added 78that US(actually it was the short form for United States) stood for Uncle Sam Wilson. Soon soldiers were saying all army supplies were from "Uncle Sam".
In May 1813,this story appeared in a newspaper published in New York.Since Uncle Sam was an example of a hard-working man and a lover of America, the idea of"Uncle Sam" as the name of this kind of man became well-known rapidly.Uncle Sam was ready to help 79 and place the interest of the nation(国家利益）above all---this is in line with (与……符合）the American spirit. This makes the American consider Uncle Sam 80 the symbol of the USA.In 1961 the US Congress made a decision that "Uncle Sam" is theAmerica's national symbol.
| A．was | B．named | C．asked | D．was called |
| A．served | B．stayed | C．joined | D．entered |
| A．saw | B．observed | C．studied | D．noticed |
| A．Surprisingly | B．seriously | C．jokingly | D．carefully |
| A．other | B．others | C．everyone | D．another |
| A．to | B．for | C．like | D．as |