Betty is not traditional American beauty. She is unfashionable, has thick red glasses, untidy hair and large metal braces (牙套) on her teeth. But this hasn’t stopped her from becoming one of American’s favorite TV characters. So how did she manage to do it?
The answer is that charm can be more attractive than beauty. Betty is the main character in a TV show Ugly Betty. The show is about her life as an office worker at a fashion magazine in New York.
The TV show has just started. Betty has many exciting experiences and romantic stories. Betty is often looked down on and laughed at by the people around. But she manages to do better than others with her hard work, charm and wisdom. The show tells us about how a girl goes from an ugly young duck into a beautiful swan.
Though you may know the ending of the show from the beginning and the story is familiar to many of us, it has still been a big success in the USA. It has attracted a large number of viewers and won two Golden Globes awards, one of the highest honors for a television program in the USA. “I think you can see a bit of Betty in all of us, and I mean men as well, because it’s about the underdog (弱者)”, says Ashley Jensen, who plays one of the characters on the show.
The program is so popular because of the performance of the 23-year-old actress America Ferrera who plays the role of Betty. She brings the character alive on the screen. Betty is popular because of ___________.
| A．her clothes | B．her charm | C．her personality | D．her appearance |
In Paragraph 4, the underlined word “it” refers to (指的是) ___________.
| A．the beginning | B．the ending | C．the story | D．the show |
Which is the reason for the success of the show?
| A．A large number of viewers. |
| B．Her life as an office worker. |
| C．The wonderful performance. |
| D．Two Golden Globes awards. |
Which of the following is NOT true according of the show?
| A．Betty is a girl of wisdom. |
| B．Betty acts as a beautiful swan on the show. |
| C．Betty is an American favorite TV character. |
| D．Betty is often looked down on by the people around. |
What can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Beauty from within. | B．A romantic story. |
| C．An ugly girl. | D．An exciting experience. |
Jay Kohl, an American student, posted an online advertisement two weeks ago searching for a Chinese family to stay with so that he can learn the language and culture.
“I’m a clean, non-smoking, and warm-hearted American man looking for a homestay in the Wudaokou area to improve my Chinese language skills,” he wrote. “I’m willing to offer help with English tutoring(家教) and even can help you with applying to foreign universities.”
He still hasn’t found a suitable home.
“Most of the families that contacted me seem to be interested in doing business instead of cultural exchange,” he said. “I think I might have to rent an apartment in the end.”
Kohl isn’t the only foreigner finding it difficult to find a homestay in Beijing. Michael Benson, who wants to come to Beijing in September, has also faced the same problems.
Why is finding a homestay family so difficult? Beijing Today consulted a Chinese teacher, Jessie Xi, who has been teaching foreign students at the University of International Business and Economics for more than six years.
Xi has accepted many homestays, and from her own experience and what she’s been told, she said there were four major problems visitors may meet when applying for homestays.
Problem 1: Having too high expectation for language improvement.
Problem 2: Considering oneself as a guest instead of a family member.
Problem 3: Not making clear what a family’s rules are beforehand.
Problem 4: Overly(过分) high demands for the living environment.Kohl wanted to look for a homestay in China because he ________.
| A．hoped to learn Chinese language and culture further |
| B．wanted to do a research on the Chinese daily life |
| C．would like to make friends with Chinese families |
| D．was interested in Chinese food |
The reason why Kohl hasn’t found a suitable home yet now is that he ________.
| A．can’t be an English tutor in home stays |
| B．can’t help apply to foreign universities |
| C．might expect too much for language improvement |
| D．might refuse to do housework in home stays |
Most of the families that contacted Kohl might be interested in ________.
| A．English tutoring | B．cultural exchange |
| C．foreign universities | D．making money |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Foreign visitors can do something helpful for their homestays. |
| B．Foreign visitors usually have problems with their homestays. |
| C．Foreign visitors should know clearly about the rules of their homestays. |
| D．Foreign visitors should consider themselves as the members of their homestays. |
The underlined word “consulted” in the passage means “________”.
| A．gave advice to | B．discussed ideas with |
| C．wanted information from | D．raised questions for |
The best title of the passage might be ________.
| A．A few things to know about the local families |
| B．Suggestions for renting apartments in Beijing |
| C．How to search for a Chinese family to stay with |
| D．Why to find a homestay in Beijing so difficult |
One day a Chinese student went to study English in England. His family name is Sun. It is the same as the word “sun”. England is a country with bad weather. It is often cloudy or misty, and it rains now and again. So the people there don’t get much sunshine in the whole year. When the Chinese student went to London, a tall English policeman with a large face opened his passport to examine(检查) it. The policeman was interested to find the Chinese name “sun” in the passport. He thought it was pronounced just like the English word “sun”，so he said to the Chinese student, “ I see your name is sun. You are wanted here.”
The Chinese student was greatly surprised. But after a moment the policeman began to smile, “Mr. Sun, you’ve brought sunshine（阳光） to England! So we don’t want you to go away.”
根据短文内容，判断正(T)误(F)。 The Chinese student’s family name is pronounced（发音） just like the English word “sun”.
London, the capital of England, is called “The misty city”.
In London, a tall Englishman with large eyes examined the Chinese student’s passport.
The policeman in London was interested in the Chinese name “sun”.
Mr. Sun was really to bring sunshine to England.
On Christmas Eve—the night before Christmas, children are very happy. They put their stockings at the end of their beds before they go to bed. They want Santa Claus to give them some presents.
Mr. Green tells his children that Santa Claus is a very kind man. He comes on Christmas Eve. He lands on (降落) the top of each house and comes down the chimney (烟囱) into the fireplace (壁炉) and brings them a lot of presents.
Christmas Day always begins before breakfast. The children wake up very early. They can’t wait (等待) to open the presents in their stockings. Then they wake up their parents and shout "Merry Christmas!"
Do you know what Christmas means? Christmas Day is the birthday of Jesus Christ. When Christ was born, many people gave him presents. So today, people still do the same thing to each other.Christmas Eve is ____________.
| A．the night before December 24 | B．the night after December 25 |
| C．the night of December 24 | D．the night of December 25 |
Santa Claus often puts the presents __________.
| A．into Children’s hats | B．into children’s stockings |
| C．under children’s beds | D．into children’s shoes |
Santa Claus comes into the house through(通过) the ________.
| A．window | B．door |
| C．chimney | D．fireplace |
On the morning of Christmas Day, children say "________ " to their parents.
| A．Good morning! | B．Thank you! |
| C．Good luck! | D．Merry Christmas! |
On Christmas Day, people often give_______ to each other.
| A．presents | B．lucky money |
| C．Christmas trees | D．stockings |
Lily is ten years old . One morning her good friend MeiMei says to her, “ Next Friday is my birthday. Would you like to come to my birthday party?” Lily says “ Yes, I would like to”.
On Friday, Lily asks her mother, “ Can I go to MeiMei’s birthday party” “Yes, but you must be polite .and I want you to sing a song for your friend.” “Ok. Mum” Lily answers and goes to MeiMei’s home on foot. Then she buys a toy for MeiMei.
At the party there are many children. Some are dancing . Some are talking. Some are playing cards. And Lily is singing an English song .There are some apples , oranges , bread , and a big birthday cake with eleven candles on it . The children sit around the cake. MeiMei makes a silent wish, and then blows the candles out in one breath. The children have a good time. Then Lily goes home by bus. How old is MeiMei?
| A．ten | B．eleven |
| C．thirteen | D．twelve |
What does Lily buy for MeiMei?
| A．apples | B．oranges |
| C．a toy | D．a big cake |
What is Lily doing at the birthday party?[
| A．singing | B．dancing |
| C．playing cards | D．talking |
How does Lily go home？
| A．She walks home | B．She takes a car |
| C．She rides a bike | D．She takes a bus |
What is on the table?
| A．An apple, two oranges and a birthday cake with candles on it |
| B．apples , oranges, bread and a birthday cake with candles on it |
| C．some apples , bread and a birthday cake with candles on it |
| D．some apples , oranges and a birthday cake with candles on it |
Mrs. White has a son. The young man begins (开始)to work in a post office in a city this autumn. He asks his mother to visit the city. The old woman is happy and catches a train.
but she doesn’t know where the post office is. She begins to look for it, but she can’t find it. At a bus stop she asks an old man, “Excuse me, sir. How can I get to the post office?”
says the o1d man. “Which one do you want?”
The old woman gives Sam’s letter to him and the old man says, “Walk along this street and take the fourth turning on the left. .”
Mrs. White thanks the old man and soon finds her son. They’re very happy. A week later the woman goes to the zoo. But after that she can’t find the way to the post office again. At the same bus stop she meets the same old man and she asks the same question again.
“Oh dear!” the old man calls out. “Are you still looking for your son?”
| A. His name is Sam White. B. She sees all kinds of animals. C. Soon she gets to the city. D. “We have about forty post offices in the city.” E. You can find the library easily. F. The pay phone is across from the hospital. G. His post office is just there. |