Some students like to translate(翻译) when they practice speaking English. Translation is a very difficult exercise. During a conversation, we don’t really have time to translate what we understand. When we use translation, we don’t develop the necessary reflexes (反应能力) needed to speak and understand a foreign language. It is important to build up reflexes right from the beginning. It will help you later when your skills are good enough to take a conversation.
Here is some advice on how to build up reflexes when you only have basic words and grammar.
Relax!
No one is checking you except yourself! Look at each communication experience as an adventure. Try to relax first when you speak English. You will pick up on small details.
Context(上下文) is your friend.
What is context? It means the situation in which something happens and that helps to understand it. (2)We can make good guesses about what is being said by using the context. It will be easy when you think about the context. You will feel much more comfortable and confident if you remember that.
Ask questions what you want to know.
After you have proudly asked for tickets at the train station, the booking-office clerk (售票员) spoke a long sentence to you about the place and the time. You may be a little unclear or have only understood a part of it. However, you can ask questions about what you want to know, such as, “Did you say…?” and “Would you repeat that more slowly?”. So that you can easily move the communication forward. Use body language.
Use body language to go with your words when you __(1)___ to learn a __(1)_____ language. The person you are speaking to only wants to understand you and will be carefully listening to you. As you become more proficient (熟练的) in your second language, you will depend(依靠) more on the language and less on body language. But there is no shame for a beginner. 在(1)处的空白处分别填入一个适当的词使句意完整、上下文通顺。
________ __________ 将(2)句译成中文。
_______________________________________________________________________________回答问题: What does the writer want us to do first when we speak English?
_______________________________________________________________________________ 在文中找出与 Maybe you didn’t hear clearly or understand all of it.意思相同或相近的句子,
并将它写在答题卡上。
_______________________________________________________________________________ 在文中找出最能表达该短文主题的句子,并将它写在答题纸上。
_______________________________________________________________________________
Do you know why different animals or insects have their special colors? Colors are used mainly to protect themselves.
Why can’t some birds easily catch locusts(蝗虫)? It is because locusts change their colors together with the change of the colors of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as autumn comes, locusts change to the same brown color as crops have. Some other insects with different colors from plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives in the day and appear only at night.
If you study the animal life, you’ll find the main use of coloring is to protect themselves. Bears, lions and other animals can’t be easily seen by hunters. This is because they have the colors much like the trees.
Have you ever noticed an even more strange thing? A kind of fish in the sea can send out black liquid when it faces danger. While the liquid spreads over, its enemies can’t find it. And it quickly swims away. So it has lived up to now though it is not strong at all. From the article we learn that locusts .
A.are dangerous to their enemies | B.are easily found by birds |
C.change their colors to protect themselves | D.are small animals |
How can insects with different colors from plants keep out of danger?
A.They have to move quietly. |
B.They hide themselves in the day and appear at night. |
C.They have the colors much like their enemies. |
D.They run away quickly. |
Bears and lions can keep safe because .
A.they live in forests | B.they like brown and grey colors |
C.they move quietly | D.they have the colors similar to the trees |
What does the word “liquid” mean in the last paragraph?
A.气体 | B.固体 | C.液体 | D.水蒸气 |
Which is the best title for this passage?
A.The Main Use of Colors for Animals and Insects |
B.Colors of Different Animals and Insects |
C.The Change of Colors for Animals and Insects |
D.The Change of Different Animals and Plants |
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If you want to have a guitar lesson, you may .
A.call Susan at 7328059 | B.surf the website: www.music.com.au |
C.telephone Mr. White at 5132683 | D.e-mail |
Who is the owner of the lost dog?
A.Mr. White. | B.Larry. | C.Susan. | D.David. |
If you want the job as a taxi driver, you should .
A.master at least three languages | B.know the city very well |
C.be an experienced driver | D.both B and C |
Which information about the apartment is not mentioned in the table?
A.It has a beautiful view. | B.It has hot water in the daytime. |
C.It has three floors. | D.It has a kitchen. |
How can you contact the owner of the apartment for more information?
A.By sending an e-mail. | B.By going to visit it. |
C.By making a phone call. | D.By sending a fax. |
Most of you know this mathematical game, of course. You and your friend draw crosses and circles on a sheet of paper. You do it one after another. The first pupil who gets three marks in a row wins. But do you know that you can play this game another way and it will become more interesting? You must try to make your friend win. If you get your three marks in a row, you don’t win — you lose!
It is more difficult to play this game the other way. The second pupil can always win (if he plays the right way), but he may not win if the first pupil begins with his mark in the center. Then if the first pupil always takes a place on the other side of his friend’s mark, nobody will win.
If your friend does not know the secret which we have explained, you must play each time so as to leave him the greatest number of ways to win. You may try a few games and you will see how interesting it is to play the game this way. The passage tells us that it is _____ to play this game.
A.interesting | B.difficult | C.impossible | D.unusual |
What s the new rule of the game if we play it another way?
A.The one who gets his three marks in a row wins. |
B.The one who makes his friend win wins. |
C.The one who plays the right way wins. |
D.The one who makes his friend lose wins. |
According to the new rule of the game, the second player can always win if the first player __.
A.begins with his mark in the center |
B.takes a place on the other side of his friend’s mark |
C.tries to get his three marks in a row first |
D.doesn’t begin with his mark in the center |
What result does the following picture show?
○ =" the" 1st player × =" the" 2nd player
A.Both of the players win. | B.The first player wins. |
C.Neither of the players wins. | D.The second player wins. |
What is the best title for this passage?
A.What an Interesting Game | B.A Game of Circles and Crosses |
C.The Secret We Want to Explain | D.Marks on a Sheet of Paper |
The word“day” has two meanings. When we talk about the number of days in a year, we are using “day” to mean 24 hours. But when we talk about day and night, we are using“day” to mean the time between sunrise and sunset. Since the earth looks like a ball, the sun can shine on only half of it at a time. Always one half of the earth is having day and the other half night. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by the spinning(旋转)of the earth. At the equator(赤道)day and night are sometimes the same length(长度). They are each twelve hours long. The sun rises at 6 o’clock in the morning and sets at 6 o’clock in the evening. For six months the North Pole is tilted(倾斜)toward the sun. In those months the Northern Hemisphere(半球)gets more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Days are longer than nights. South of the equator nights are longer than days. For the other six months the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Then the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. Days are longer than nights. North of the equator nights are longer than days. Winter is the season of long nights. Summer is the season of long days. When the Western Hemisphere is having day, the Eastern Hemisphere is having ________.
A.both day and night | B.day |
C.neither day nor night | D.night |
A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by ________ of the earth.
A.the pushing | B.the pulling | C.the spinning | D.the passing |
.At the equator day is as long as night ________.
A.sometimes | B.never | C.usually | D.always |
When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere gets ________ sunlight.
A.less | B.more | C.all | D.no |
.When it is winter in China, ________.
A.the USA is tilted toward the sun |
B.the South Pole is tilted away from the sun |
C.the North Pole is tilted toward the sun |
D.the North Pole is tilted away from the sun |
Acrobatics Do you like acrobatics? The Chinese National Acrobatic Circus (中国国家杂技团) is the best acrobatic circus of New China. Now the star-studded cast(明星荟萃的演员阵容)are exhibiting the charm and elegance of the most professional comprehensive acrobatic art at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10 : 00, free. |
Movies at the Museum Two Indian movies will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See The Grand Canyon at 2:00. The Builders will be at 3 :50. If you want to know more, telephone 367890. |
International Picnic Do you grow tired of having the same food every day? Would you like to enjoy food from all over the world? It’s delicious and not expensive. Come to Big Restaurant on Saturday. 11:30 am to 5:00 pm. |
Take Me out to the Ballgame It’s October,and Saturday night(7:00—9:00)is your final chance to see the B1ue Birds this year.Get your tickets at the gate.It may be a little cold…Please wear sweaters and jackets. |
Prince of the Piano Richard Clayderman, the French pianist who is widely known as "The Prince of the Piano", will give his concert this Saturday night, at 8 at Flower Hall, City college. |
On Saturday morning, you can_________.
A.go to watch a ballgame |
B.take your children to watch acrobatics |
C.go to a concert at Flower Hall, City College |
D.go to the Big Restaurant for a picnic |
The Blue Birds ballgame_________.
A.is outside | B.is at the gate |
C.is in the afternoon | D.might be cold |
If you_________, you can eat many kinds of food in the world.
A.go to see a film | B.buy tickets at the gate |
C.go to the City Theatre | D.go to the Big Restaurant |
"The Prince of the Piano" is_________.
A.a music group | B.a prince who can play the piano |
C.Richard Clayderman | D.one of the Blue Birds |
Tony wants to spend a nice Saturday, which is not possible for him to do?
A. Watching a ballgame and having an international picnic.
B, Having a picnic in the Big Restaurant and seeing a film.
C. Listening to a concert and watching a ballgame.
D. Seeing a film and listening to a conceit.