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 |
The TAJ 100 years of pictures THEN AND NOW See the Taj in history from 19:00 to 20:00 Photography Show City Art Museum 720 High Street Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m to 5 p.m |
AFRICAN SAFARI PARK A Driver-through Zoo Drive in your own car or take the special bus. See lions, elephants, tigers without cage Open every day 9-4 Special tickets$35 for 4 people |
BELL TOWER TRIPS Great scenery from the trip Climb 439 steps or take the lift Learn the 300 year history of our city Sundays only 8 a.m.to 3 p.m. No children under 5 |
HARRY POTTERMAGIC SHOW MAGIC SHOW See magic performances the quiet bell the clever boy the terrible message two full hours Saturday morning starts at 9:30 The Grand Cinema 741 High Street |
We can go to see the Taj pictures every day EXCEPT______.
A.Monday | B.Tuesday | C.Friday | D.Sunday |
If eight students go to see animals in the zoo on Sunday, they should pay ______.
A.$105 | B.$140 | C.$35 | D.$70 |
Children under _____ are not allowed to go to Bell Tower.
A.5 | B.6 | C.7 | D.8 |
On Saturday morning the film Harry Potter end at ______.
A.9:30 | B.10:00 | C.11:00 | D.11:30 |
If Sam wants to see magic performances, he may go to _____ to enjoy them.
A.City Art Museum | B.the Grand Cinema |
C.African Safari Park | D.Bell Tower |
If I had one million Yuan, I would buy you a house! Do I have one million Yuan? No, I don't.So I only can spend ten fens on this short message, sending you my best wishes! Today SMS---Short Message Service is popular, and China Mobile says that every second(秒钟), there are 410 messages being sent.
Look around you! People are watching their mobiles(手机), smiling or laughing.Thumbs(拇指) are moving quickly on mobiles, bringing happiness to their friends.Through SMS, we know the weather report, share jokes and news, express love and friendship.
SMS is becoming more and more popular.It's reported that 67% of young people like to send short messages to greet(问候) each other.Internet SMS will be more helpful to people.I'm thankful for the progress because SMS saves me much money.Just on the top of the thumb, so much joy can be found.SMS can help people do the followings except____.
A.knowing the weather report |
B.sharing jokes and news |
C.expressing love and friendship |
D.spending more time traveling |
The writer thinks that___.
A.SMS helps people a lot |
B.young people dislike SMS |
C.he makes SMS more popular |
D.he will buy a palace for his friend |
_____of young people like to send short messages to greet each other.
A.40% | B.50% | C.60% | D.67% |
The passage is mainly about____.
A.How to search Internet |
B.how to send short message |
C.the joy (快乐) of SMS |
D.ways of saving money |
Which of the following is WORNG according to the passage?
A.The writer has one million yuan. |
B.The writer spends ten fen on this short message. |
C.More than 400 people send messages every second. |
D.Internet SMS will be more helpful to people. |
Yao Ming, the center of the Chinese National Men’s Basketball Team, served the Huston Rockets in NBA.The 2.26 m, 120 kg center(中锋) becomes the first one to come from a foreign team.
Yao Ming was born in Shanghai in September, 1980.His mother was a center and captain of the Chinese National Women’s Team.His father played basketball, too.
Yao Ming is widely known in China.He came to be a very important basketball player in China Basketball Association (联赛).It’s short for CBA.During the 2000~2001 season, he did very well.He got 27.1 scores for the Shanghai Oriental (东方) Sharks in every match.
Yao Ming joined the Houston Rockets in November, 2002.He said this was a new start in his basketball life.He would do his best to learn from the NBA and improve himself.
Sport analyst (分析家) Bill Walton said, “Yao Ming has the potential (潜力), the capability(能力) of changing the future of basketball.”The Houston Rockets is the name of a ______ team.
A.table tennis | B.volleyball | C.basketball | D.baseball |
Both Yao Ming’s father and mother were ___________.
A.football players | B.basketball players |
C.the centers of the Chinese National Team | D.teachers |
Yao Ming ________ in CBA during the 2000~2001 season.
A.did badly | B.did well | C.was common | D.was not |
Yao Ming ________ the Houston Rockets in November, 2002.
A.did his best to join | B.was well-know in |
C.became a member of | D.left |
Sport analyst Bill Walton thought Yao Ming was able to _______.
A.learn from the NBA | B.change the future of basketball |
C.improve himself | D.becoming an American |
Two farmers were on their way home one evening after a hard day's work.Both were tired.They happened to look up at the sky and saw a black cloud overhead.
"Ah!" said one farmer, "tomorrow we shall have rain and the rice will grow well." The second answered, "Nonsense (胡说), the rain will only kill the crops (庄稼)."
So they began to fight.Just then a third farmer came along and asked them why they were quarreling(争吵).Both farmers explained about the black cloud.
"What cloud?" asked the third farmer.They all looked at the sky.The cloud was no longer there.The two farmers were _____.
A.going home | B.going to the field |
C.going to work | D.going to see their friend |
The two farmers _____ on that day.
A.had a holiday | B.didn't work |
C.worked hard | D.wanted to fight with each other |
According to the passage, when there are black clouds in the sky, the two farmers think _____.
A.it will rain soon | B.it will be fine |
C.it will get hot | D.the sun is shining brightly |
The two farmers fought because _____.
A.they were hungry |
B.it rained |
C.one said the rain would do good to the crops and the other didn't think so |
D.they both hoped for rain |
The third farmer came and said to the other two.He _____.
A.wanted to make friends with them |
B.joined them in the quarrel |
C.wanted to know why they were fighting |
D.had nothings to do |
Mr. Wang is our English teacher.He is fifty years old.He has a big nose(鼻子) and small eyes.He has glasses(眼镜).He often wears(穿着)a blue jacket and black pants.He is strict (严格的) at his work, but he is good.He teaches English well.We think English is very interesting.We like him very much, too.How old is Mr. Wang?
A.50 B.45C.15Mr. Wang has __________ eyes.
A.old B.big C.smallWhat does he often wear?
A.a watch B.black pants C.a hatWhat color is his jacket?
A.black B.green C.blueThe students ___________ Mr. Wang.
A.like B.doesn’t like C.teaches English