Millions of British people have ditched the traditional “thank you” and took the place of it with the less formal “cheers”, according to a survey.
Although the common person will say “thank you” nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to add a “cheers” or “ta” where it’s needed to show they are fashionable.
One in twenty now say “nice one” instead, while the younger are more likely to offer a “cool” than a “thank you”. “Merci”, “fab” and even “gracias” were also listed as common phrases to use, as “much appreciated(感激)”.
One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal “thank you” was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly won’t say thank you if they are in a bad mood. Most people stated that saying thank you was something that their parents trained them. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say thank you to a person’s face without even meaning it, while one fifth avoid(避免)saying it when they know they should.
It seems our friends and family get the stress of our bad manners. Half of them admit (承认) they’re not good at thanking those closest to them. Many of them explain that they don’t say thank you because their family “already know I’m grateful”.
When spoken words won’t do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people.
One third will still send a handwritten thank-you note---but 45 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they tried to send one.
A quarter of British people say “thank you” with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake.
It follows that 85 percent of people will be angry because of not getting the gratitude (感激)they feel they should receive.Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say “thank you” _______.
A.when they are in good mood |
B.completely out of habit |
C.when they feel truly grateful |
D.purely out of politeness |
The underlined word “ditched” in Paragraph 1 means “________”.
A.gave up | B.used |
C.shared | D.knew |
It can be learned from the passage that _______.
A.different ways of expressing gratitude are all fashionable |
B.people should avoid saying “thank you” nowadays |
C.a thank-you note is still appreciated by most people |
D.people in a bad mood never say “thank you” |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Most people express their gratitude to others by buying food for them. |
B.About fifty percent of people try not to say thank you when they should. |
C.Most people may feel natural when they fail to receive others’ gratitude. |
D.Many people think it unnecessary to say thanks to their family members. |
Nowadays many people go abroad. Then they must learn some customs about the country because different countries have different customs. In order that we can learn more about customs, the Culture Palace has invited some foreign speakers to give us speeches. Here is the timetable.
Speaker:Mr Smith (From America) Speech: Table manners in America Place: Room 1204 in Culture Palace Time:7:30~9:30p.m.on Tuesday, March 3rd Ticket Price : ¥25 |
Speaker:Mrs White (From England) Speech: Who pays for the meals in England? Place: Room 3218 in Culture Palace Time:8:00~10:00p.m.on Wednesday March 4th Ticket Price : ¥20 |
Speaker:Mr Brown (form Australia) Speech: How to be a polite person in Australia? Place: the Culture Hal Time:7:30~10:00p.m.on Tuesday, March 5th Ticket Price : ¥15 |
Speaker:Mrs Black(From Germany) Speech:Good manners in Germany Place: Room 320 in Culture Palace Time:7:30~9:00p.m.on Friday, March 6th Ticket Price : ¥20 |
The Culture Palace invites some foreign speakers to give speeches, because __________.
A.people are interested in western culture |
B.people want to communicate with foreigners more |
C.it may make people learn English much harder |
D.people should know more about foreign customs |
Mr Smith comes from_________.
A.America | B.England | C.Australia | D.Germany |
If you want to go to England on business, you can attend the speech in __________.
A.Room 1240 in Culture Palace |
B.Room 3218 in Culture Palace |
C.the Culture Hal |
D.Room 320 in Culture Palace |
How much is it if someone wants to listen to all the speeches?
A.¥20 | B.¥ 35 | C.¥60 | D.¥80 |
Which of the following is true according to the timetable?
A.Mr. Smith is going to give a speech on who pays for the meals in England. |
B.Mrs. White will give a speech in Room 3218 in the Culture Hall on Tuesday. |
C.Mr. Brown will give the speech “How to be a polite person in Australia” in the Culture Hall. |
D.Mrs. Black will give a speech on good manners in Germany on March 5th. |
While you are in trouble, what are you going to do? What? Cry? Or escape? Those are all the wrong way! Robinson Crusoe can tell you the right answer!
It is an exciting story: Robinson Crusoe hated the comfortable life in his home town. So, he want to be a seaman and travelled around the world. But one day, a terrible thing happened. A great storm came and their boat crashed! No one was alive in this accident except Robinson. He was the luckiest man in the world--Because all his friends were dead but he was alive. However, at the same time he was the most tragic man of all—He must face the fact .Alone on an island without food, water or gun!But, all roads lead to Rome!He just used his hands to work hard!Then, he made a cave, built a house, grew corn and kept goats. In the end, he could enjoy the life on the island. In his twenty-fourth year on the island, he saved a wild man, and gave him the name of “Friday”. With Robinson’s teaching, “Friday” became a good servant. Friday, they got a boat and escaped from the island.
Surely, the writer of Robinson Crusoe is really a hero! It’s too hard to describe Robinson with words. We could say that Robinson was very clever, and also he was brave,...Certainly, too many good words can describe him. But now, I think it isn’t important. However, the most important thing is what we have learned from the story. That is, use our own hands to work hard with confidence!Robinson wanted to be a sailor because.
A.sailor was an interesting job |
B.he could earn more money to be a sailor |
C.he wanted to have an adventure experience |
D.he didn’t like the quiet life in his home town |
How many people were alive in the accident?
A.No one. | B.One | C.Two | D.Many |
The underlined word “tragic” means “” in Chinese.
A.悲惨的 | B.伤心的 | C.现实的 | D.幸运 |
Robinson met “Friday” .
A. before he traveled around the world |
B.when the accident happened |
C.after he escaped from the island |
D.when he was on the island |
According to the author,is the most important thing we can learn from Robinson Crusoe.
A.being brave and hard-working |
B.being brave and confident |
C.being hard-working and confident |
D.being brave, hard-working and confident |
Some time ago I received a gift from both of my children. It had nothing to do with Father’s Day. Yet, at the same time it had everything to do with Father’s Day.
My son was studying in a high school in Colorado. He lived in the school. While we were talking on the phone he shared some wonderful news with me.
He said, “You know Dad, I am really happy with my life. I can’t think of a thing that I would change about the way that I grew up, or the way that my life is now. ”
My daughter was living with her mother in Northern California at that time. She said almost the same thing to me just a few days later.
Of course, I was delighted to hear this from both of them. And I told them both how happy I was, not only that they were happy ,but that they expressed it to me.
And that was the gift that they were giving me ---with the heart to communicate. Certainly I hope for good news when I hear from them. But mostly I love that they will share their real feelings with me. Happy or sad, I love to be touched(感动)by their real thoughts and feelings.
For a child, Father’s Day isn’t really about giving Dad a gift. It is about understanding the love that fathers express when they help put food on the table, teach their child to ride a bike, cheer at a soccer game, etc.
For a father, Father’s Day isn’t so much about receiving gifts for a job well done. Remember, the greatest gift that we give our children is the real expression of our love. It isn’t enough for them to feel love inside ourselves: we need to express that love.The writer’s son saidon the phone.
A.he was happy but wanted to have a change |
B.he was really happy with his life |
C.he hoped to grow up quickly |
D.he wished to get a gift from him |
The writer’s daughter .
A.loved her mother more than him |
B.was studying in Colorado |
C.told him she was happy with her life |
D.once lived alone |
The author is more touched by children’s.
A.good news | B.real feelings | C.improvement | D.gifts |
For a child, what is the real meaning of Father’s Day according to this article?
A.Realizing his father’s love through daily life. |
B.Receiving a gift from his father. |
C.Helping his father with some work. |
D.Making his father happy. |
What is the main idea of this article?
A.Understanding the love of parents |
B.Receiving gifts from children |
C.Feeling the love inside |
D.Expressing your love to your families |
We always want to prepare ourselves to the changes we may face when we go to a different country. Well, I have to say that for me, even after living in the US for one year and a half, I am still not used to the changes of weather, or how to manage my money well. There are many things that can give us culture shocks, but it is up to us whether to make it a big shock or a small one.
I know that changing schools was a big thing for me. It helped me to be stronger and open towards meeting new people. Sometimes it feels like everybody is already in a group. This makes it harder for someone else to go in. But, it is not that hard. Actually many people know that you are from another country. They feel curious about your “history”, and would often think you are a different man.
Another thing that can produce a shock to me is the sudden change of weather. During the last couple of days, there was an ice-snow storm. It was the biggest in 15 years in the state of Missouri. It was raining ice, really, and you could hear sounds outside the window like little pieces of rocks hitting it, of course it was the ice. It started accumulating so heavily that the University had to close down for two days, and it got worse when it started snowing after the ice storm.
As international students, you may at times find something very difficult, but hey, anyone can beat and overcome it to make studying aboard an unforgettable experience.The author has been in the US for .
A.one year |
B.one and a half years |
C.two years |
D.two and a half years |
Changing schools.
A.was just a small thing for the author |
B.made it harder for the author to go into new people’s group |
C.helped the author to be stronger and open towards meeting new people |
D.made all people think the author was a different man |
The underlined word “accumulating” meansin Chinese.
A.堆积 | B.融化 | C.结冰 | D.移动 |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned to be a shock for the author when he studied in the US?
A.The big changes of weather.
B.B.Managing money.
C.Changing schools.
D.Difference in language.What is the main idea of this article?
A.We may often change school to get used to living in a different country. |
B.The author exercised a lot during the ice-snow storm and became stronger. |
C.Students form other countries are curious about American history. |
D.Studying abroad is cool though there are difficulties. |
Events
Long March exhibit
The Shanghai History Museum is putting on exhibition to remember the Long March(长征) which took place 75 years ago. More than 220 photos and 40 other things are on show. All the exhibition is explained in Chinese. The show will end on November 20.
Time: 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Address: 1286 Hongqiao Road
Ticket: 8 yuan for Chinese/15 yuan for foreigners
Thai elephants
Eight elephants from Thailand are an attraction for visitors at Changfeng Park by riding bikes, playing basketball, dancing and blowing a musical instrument. The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and there is an extra show at 1:30 p.m. at weekends. The show will end on November 15.
Address:189 Daduhe Road
Ticket:30—40 yuan
Dancing dolphins
Dolphins jumping from the water to touch a ball, dancing to music, kissing people and doing easy math problems, and seals and sea lions, also performing, have made a large part of the aquarium(水族馆) in Peace Park, which interests children greatly.
Hours: 10:30 a.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Ticket: 20 yuan for adults and 10 yuan for children.Where can one see the Long March exhibition?
A.In Shanghai History Museum. |
B.In Changfeng Park. |
C.In Peace Park. |
D.On 189 Dahude Road. |
How many shows do the Thailand elephants give at weekends?
A.One | B.Two | C.Three | D.Four |
What may interest children very much in Peace Park?
A.Elephants playing basketball. |
B.Dolphins dancing to the music. |
C.Seals riding bikes. |
D.Sea lions blowing instruments. |
How much should a child pay to go into Peace Park?
A.Five yuan. | B.Fifteen yuan. | C.Ten yuan. | D.Twenty yuan. |
Which of the following is true?
A.The Long March exhibition is explained in English. |
B.The sea animals can work out difficult math problems. |
C.Thai elephants’ shows can only be seen in the day. |
D.The sea animals perform three times a day. |