It can be hard to meet people from another culture. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal (信号). Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize（强调）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural（多元文化）environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
| A．keep each other company |
| B．share the same culture |
| C．get to know each other |
| D．develop closer relations |
| A．too many words are of no use |
| B．the English prefer to make long speeches |
| C．even talk and silence can be culturally different |
| D．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
| A．Multicultural Environment |
| B．Cross-Cultural Differences |
| C．How to Understand Each Other |
| D．How to Build Up a Relationship |
My father and I started our morning by moving quickly into the local store. I waited in the line at the Starbucks counter while he shopped around to pick up a few things.
As I was starting there I become aware of an elderly women, with untidy hair, wearing layers upon layers of old clothing, hunchbacked (弯背的) behind me in line. She had a few things for washing and seemed to want the Starbucks cashier to ring up since that queue was shorter than the queues in the store.
At some point I became aware of her edging (慢慢挪动) closer behind me — closer than I was comfortable with! I instinctively (本能地) placed a hand over my purse and drew it close to me. My fear and imagination raced creating wild stories about this homeless woman who might try to steal from me.
Then it was my turn to order. As the cashier rang up my total, I discovered I was 67 cents short. I called my father but he was hard of hearing. He asked me to repeat what I said but he still couldn’t make me out. At that point, a long, grey arm, with holes in its sleeves, reached over from behind me. She laid 67 cents out on the counter, saying, “Here, we all need some help sometimes.”
I was stunned! Here was a woman who clearly had very little to give and was in great need herself. I had judged her wrongly and she had offered to reach out to help me!
What an amazing gift and lesson this woman gave me about judging others! Thank you, God!From the passage, we can learn that the elderly women .
| A．probably lived a poor life |
| B．tried to steal money from the writer |
| C．always followed close behind the writer |
| D．often went to the store to buy a few things. |
The elderly woman decided to help the writer .
| A．the moment she saw the writer |
| B．when she noticed the writer watching her |
| C．after the writer failed to get help from her father |
| D．when the writer discovered she was 67 cents short |
The underline word “stunned” in paragraph 5 probably means “ ”.
| A．happy | B．surprised | C．angry | D．disappointed |
What lesson does the writer learn from the story?
| A．We should look at things from two sides. |
| B．It’s wise to give help to those in need. |
| C．The world is full of love and surprises. |
| D．Never judge a person from his appearance. |
If we are driving a car or crossing a street, we will stop when the traffic lights turn red. Why do we use red rather than other colors?
As we know, scattering (散射) happens when light goes through the air. For the same media, if the wavelength (波长) is long, the scattering will be short. If the wavelength is short, then the scattering will be long.
Of all light we can see red has the longest wavelength, so the scattering is the weakest. That means the red light travels far. In fact, it travels farther on rainy days.
Using the red light can help drivers in farther areas see the lights. It helps drivers slow down or stop in time. If drivers don’t see the red light until they are close, they may not be able to stop the car in time. An accident may happen. Red can also excite people. We can act more quickly when we see the color red.
In a word, red light helps drivers stop in time and help prevent accidents.______ has the longest wavelength of all light we can see.
| A．Red | B．Green |
| C．Yellow | D．Black |
Red light travels farther on ______ days.
| A．windy | B．sunny |
| C．rainy | D．cloudy |
Red can make people act more quickly because ____________.
| A．red can make people happier |
| B．the scattering of red is very short |
| C．the scattering of red is very long |
| D．red can make people more excited |
The passage mainly tells us ____________.
| A．why accidents happen |
| B．how the red light travels |
| C．why we use red traffic lights |
| D．how to stop in time at traffic lights |
Besides calling 120, here is what you should do when no one is around to help.
 |
If you get lost, you may stay where you can be seen clearly and try your best to have a rest. In a wide open area, make a colorful cross out of rocks to show where you stay. |
 |
When you choke (噎住) at home, make a sudden hit against the back of the chair. If you can’t breathe after six tries, call 120. Leave the telephone open until help arrives. |
 |
If you get hurt, use your hand or a scarf, or any dry cloth you can find, and push down on the wound (伤口) until the blood stops running. Don’t put the cloth around your leg tightly, or you may lose your foot. |
 |
When a fire happens, you must move close to the floor. Cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel (毛巾), make you wet from head to foot if possible and find a safe place outside. |
If you get lost in a wide open area, you should ____________.
| A．call out for help | B．make a cross |
| C．phone the police | D．draw a map |
You move close to the floor in a fire to keep away from ____________.
| A．smoke | B．light | C．noise | D．rain |
____________ can help to deal with a wound.
| A．A wet towel | B．A chair |
| C．A scarf | D．Some rocks |
During a winter storm in 1919, one dog managed to save the lives of the people on the ship Ethie. Today, people still tell the story of the dog.
In December 1919, Ethie was travelling along the coast of northern Canada. Without warning, the ship ran into a bad storm. Because of high winds and heavy snow, the captain could not tell where he was going. Sailing too close to the shore (岸), the ship could not move because of some rocks. Ethie was in danger.
The captain decided to save the people on his ship. He thought it was too dangerous to try to reach the shore by lifeboat, so he sent up flares (闪光信号) to call for help. People saw the flares and rushed to the beach. The crew (船员) tried to throw a rope (绳子) to them, but there seemed to be no way to get a rope to the shore.
In the early 1900s ships often carried a large kind of dog called a Newfoundland. Newfoundlands are excellent swimmers. During sea journeys, Newfoundlands would bring back things that had fallen off the ship or even save people from the sea.
The Newfoundland on Ethie was named Tang. The captain decided that Tang offered their best hope of survival (幸存). He gave the dog a long rope. Holding the rope between his teeth, Tang jumped into the turbulent water. He fought his way through high waves and strong winds. Finally he reached the beach.
The people on the shore took the rope. The rope became the ship’s lifeline.
Because of Tang, all the people on Ethie landed on the beach safely. He was given a special medal for being a hero. Tang wore the medal for the rest of his life. What happened to the ship Ethie at the beginning of the story?
| A．It ran into a bad storm. |
| B．It couldn’t reach the shore. |
| C．There was a hole in it. |
| D．It was found at the bottom of the sea. |
Ethie could not move near the shore because of
| A．the high waves | B．the heavy snow |
| C．some rocks in the sea | D．the strong winds |
Which order is RIGHT according to the story?
① The dog reached the beach.
② The captain gave Tang a rope.
③ Tang was given a special medal.
④ The captain sent up flares.
| A．①③②④ | B．④②①③ |
| C．①②④③ | D．②④①③ |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．A storm in 1919 | B．The rope to save people |
| C．A medal for a dog | D．The hero on the ship |
Amy was looking for a gift for her little daughter. Suddenly she stopped before a store of dolls.
“Girls like dolls,” she thought as she was walking into it. Looking around, she saw a grandma doll - one with gray hair and a pair of glasses. In her mind appeared Joyce, her mother.
When Amy was a little girl, she got her first doll from Joyce for her birthday. Then the second, the third...A doll a year from Joyce never arrived late. “Why always a doll?” This question had been in Amy's mind until one day her father gave the answer, Little Joyce dreamed to have a doll. Her parents promised one for her fifth birthday. Sadly, they both died in a traffic accident before it arrived. The never-received gift was the most precious in her eyes. Her mother's story being recalled(回忆) , Amy got an idea.
It was Joyce's 60th birthday. A package was delivered(递送) to her, with a card that read:
Dear Joyce,
I forget to send you the package(包裹) that you should have received on May 20, 1956, your fifth birthday. The gift inside has aged, but I felt that you might still wish to have it.
Angel of Joy
Joyce opened the package and saw a lovely grandma doll. She held the doll that she had waited for so many years, with tears running down her face. The doll, given by “Angel of Joy”, made her the happiest “child” in the world.We can tell from the story that Joyce is .
| A．Amy’s daughter | B．Amy’s mother |
| C．the grandma doll | D．Angel of Joy |
Why did Joyce often buy a doll for her as a birthday present every year?
| A．Because Amy liked dolls. |
| B．Because Amy’s mother Joyce liked dolls. |
| C．Because the dolls made Joyce think of the never-received gift given by her parents. |
| D．Because Joyce’s parents liked dolls. |
The underlined word “precious” probably means .
| A．expensive | B．Beautiful | C．useful | D．valuable |
How do you understand the last sentence “The doll, given by ‘Angel of Joy’”, made her the happiest “child” in the world?
| A．Amy’s doll gift made Joyce feel so happy that she smiled like a child |
| B．Though Joyce was old, she still wished to have a doll that is often liked by a child |
| C．Joyce seemed to realize the dream in her childhood----receiving her parents’ gift. |
| D．Joyce thought the doll was only suitable for children. |