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 |
Mobile phone has become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have banned (禁止) students from carrying mobile phones during school hours.
Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for schools. Several children have got mobile phones from parents and friends as Christmas gifts, and more students will want them.
Lucy Bluett, an expert, said mobile phone use was a distraction (分心的事) to students during school hours. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.
She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t call up their children.
Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school office.
Many people say that they understand why parents would want their children to have phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.Some middle schools in Australia have banned students from carrying mobile phones ______.
A．when they are at home
B．when they are free
C．when they are at schoolWe know from the passage that some children get mobile phones from .
A．the makers and sellers
B．the passers-by and strangers
C．their parents and friendsWhat does the underlined word “cheat” mean in the passage?
A．Behave dishonestly.
B．Behave honestly.
C．Behave correctly.Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t ______ during school hours.
A．use their mobile phones
B．call up their children
C．help the teachers with their workThe passage tells us that ______.
A．students shouldn’t have mobile phones at school except for some special reasons
B．many people can’t understand why parents would want their children to have phones
C．all parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t use their phones at school
| Join Us Basketball Club: We have a basketball club. It opens in the school on Saturdays. |
| Lost and Found Lost: A black bag in Room 601. Phone Jack White at 6880322. Found: Man’s gold watch. Please call Mr. Green at 6444997. |
| On Sale Pants — for boys, black and new. TV— old but works. Phone number: 5234065, 5234066. |
Where does the basketball club open?
A．In the school.
B．In Room 601.
C．In the store.Jack White wants to________.
A．find a black bag
B．join a club
C．buy an old TV setYou can call at ____________ to get your watch back.
A．6880322 B．5234065 C．6444997How is the TV on sale?
A．It’s new and it works.
B．It’s old but it works.
C．It’s old and it doesn’t work.Which sentence is TRUE?
A．Mr. Green can’t find his bag.
B．Mr. Green finds a watch.
C．Mr. Green likes basketball.
Miss Kate taught physics in a New York school. Last month she was explaining to one of her classes about sound, and she decided to test them to see how well they had understood her explanation. She said to them, “Now, I have a brother in Los Angeles. If I was calling him on the phone, and at the same time you were 80 meters away, and were listening to me from across
the street, which of you would hear what I said earlier, my brother or you and for what reason?”
A boy at once answered, “ Your brother, Miss Kate, because electricity travels faster than sound waves(声波).
“That’s very good.” Miss Kate said, but then Jenny said, “I don’t agree. Your brother would hear you earlier because it is 11 o’clock here, it’s only eight o’clock in Los Angeles.”Miss Kate was a physics teacher.
All her students understood her lesson.
The boy’s answer was not correct.
The boy’s answer was just what Kate wanted her students to know.
Jenny thought the boy’s reason was wrong because she found Los Angeles Time was three hours earlier than New York Time.
My father used to work in the city and seldom stayed at home. But he would come back help to harvest(收割) rice every year.
One autumn, he promised to help our neighbor, who lost his arms in a traffic accident in 1999, to harvest his rice. After Father harvested our town, his little rice picker broke. What’s worse, he had to return to work the next day because his partner was ill in hospital. It meant that Father wouldn’t be back in a few days. It now seemed impossible to help out the neighbor.
Father told us that be wouldn’t let the neighbor’s rice rot( 糜烂) in the field. He decided to harvest it by hand without a machine. “If tonight’s weather is clear, I think I can do it.” added my father. In fact, he was rather tired after a day’s harvest work.
After dinner, Father had a short rest and made his way to the field. A full moon was glowing (发光) in the sky and the weather was cold but clear. He spent the whole night keeping his word.
I would never forget the image(画面)：Father was cutting rice in the light of the harvest moon. Behind him, row after row of rice stocks(秸秆) stood at attention, showing respect for a man who kept his word.Did Father always stay with the family?
What happened to the neighbor in 1999?
Why was Father required to return to work?
How did Father help the neighbor harvest rice in the field?
How long did Father spend in harvesting the neighbor’s rice?
Have you ever heard of e-waste(electric waste,电子垃圾), which can be produced every day? How do you deal with your computers, MP4 players and mobile phones when they’re broken or you want a new one?
Most people just throw them away. With the development of electric industry, e-waste pollution has become a serious problem. According to the United Nations, in 2014, people around the world produced 41.8 million tons of e-waste and only recycled 6.5 million tons. The US was the biggest waster, producing 7.1 million tons. China came second, with 6 million tons.
It’s important to pay attention to e-waste. It can either be valuable or harmful（有害的）, depending on how we deal with it. E-waste is a valuable urban mine（城市矿藏）. The value of the metals, like gold and silver in the waste around the world, is amazing. And the metals can be reused. But if people throw them away, the toxic chemicals（有毒化学物质） can get into the earth or air, effecting the environment and people’s health.
Apple, for example, now recycle people’s used products in China when they are buying new ones. The company will test and repair the used ones and sell them at lower prices. To help reduce（减少）e-waste, we can also take computers and phones to see if companies offer recycling programs. The following can become e-waste EXCEPT_____.
A. computers
B. mobile phones
C. plastic bagsWhich country produced most e-waste last year according to the United Nations?
A. America. B. China. C. Japan.What does the underline word “affecting” mean in this passage?
A. 保护 B. 影响 C. 改善From Paragraph 4, we learn that_____.
A. the recycle Apple products will be sold at higher prices.
B. buying longer lasting electronic products is a good way to reduce e-waste.
C. it’s better to keep the unwanted electronics in your bedroom.The main purpose of this passage is to_____.
A. prove that e-waste is useless.
B. encourage people to buy more electronic products.
C. advise people to deal with e-waste properly to reduce pollution.