You probably know you should say "please" and "thank you" at restaurants. You probably know the rules of a library. You know you should respect and be nice to your classmates. But do you have music manners?
Keep It Down! You have to notice the volume of your music. You should not play your music so loud that everyone around you can hear it. Some people might even get angry. Usually, when you play the music loud on an MP3 player, other people can't hear the words of the song. They just hear a loud sound. No one wants to listen to this. Very loud music can also be bad for your ears. So even if you are alone when listening to your MP3 players, you shouldn't turn it up too high.
Take Them Off! You need to know when to turn your MP3 off and put it away. Libraries and schools don't allow MP3 players. There are other places, like museums, that don't have rules, but it would be rude to have your MP3 player on. Sometimes, it doesn't make sense(无意义) to listen on your MP3 player at event. Why would you listen to music at a play, a movie or a sporting event? You would miss what is going on and others would wonder why you even came.
Take One Out! Once in a while it's okay just to take out one earphone and not the other. Imagine you are listening on your MP3 player when someone asks you the way. It would not be rude to take out one earphone, tell him the way, and put back the earphone and continue listening. You can also do this when you order food at a fast-food restaurant or when you answer the telephone.
It's Your Choice! There are times when you need to decide what is best. For example, some people can listen to music on their MP3 players when reading books, while others think it is disturbing. In cases like this, you need to do what seems right for you.The underlined word "volume" in Paragraph 2 probably means "_________."
A.the type of music |
B.the length of a song |
C.the amount of a sound |
D.the color of an MP3 player |
We should turn down the music when we are alone because loud music_________.
A.may annoy others | B.will make us tired |
C.is bad for MP3 players | D.can hurt our ears |
If we listen to our MP3 player at a play, _________.
A.the theatre won't allow it |
B.we may miss part of the play |
C.others won't hear the play well |
D.the actors will get angry |
The main idea of this passage is about _________.
A.music lovers | B.music manners |
C.music players | D.MP3 earphones |
Q: I currently entered college in New York. Since English is not my first language, I sometimes ask a friend to read my essays to help fix the grammar and language. I believe I'm being graded mainly on my ideas, and my friend helps me get my ideas across better in English. Is this OK?
-Mariana
A: It's good that you want to succeed in your written work at college. Making use of available resources to help you succeed is a smart strategy (策略). But while you may believe that your instructors don't care as much about how you write as they do about your ideas, that' s not a fair assumption.(假设)
Certainly, your ideas are important. No matter how polished your writing is, it will not disguise a poorly expressed idea in a paper. But as a college student, being able to organize your thoughts clearly-whether you're speaking in class or writing a paper-is critical to show that you've mastered the material in each course. This does not mean you shouldn't ask others to review your written work before handing it in. That's OK.
You should not, however, allow a friend or anyone else to rewrite parts of your papers for you. Instead, ask them to simply let you know about any parts of the paper that are unclear and need work. Many colleges have writing centers where tutors will work with you on your writing-without doing the work for you.
Regardless of whether you consult(咨询) with a friend or a tutor, the right thing is for you to talk to your instructors to ask their advice and let them know you plan to seek assistance with your writing. If you ask them in advance for guidance on what's appropriate and what's not for the written work they assign, that will allow you to be as transparent as possible about how you completed your assignments.
-Professor ByronWhat problem does Mariana meet?
A.She has trouble learning English grammar. |
B.She wonders if her method on writing is suitable. |
C.She doesn't get on well with her classmates. |
D.She isn't able to express herself in English. |
According to Pro. Byron, what's the most important in writing a paper?
A.Professional advice. |
B.Polishing carefully. |
C.Organizing thoughts. |
D.Familiar materials. |
When asking someone for help on your paper, you should ask him ______.
A.to hand in the paper after reading it |
B.to write the difficult part for you |
C.to make a writing. plan for you |
D.to tell you the part to be improved |
What does the underlined word refer to in the text?
A.Essays. | B.Courses |
C.Ideas. | D.Resources. |
Selfies (自拍) have become an increasingly common way to capture memorable moments. When it comes to taking selfies , knowing the following tips can directly affect the quality of your final product. .
The use of light is vital to improving image quality. Lights can help avoid shadows and create soft features on your face, so turn your face toward the main light. source. If you want to be creative, play with light angles by turning your body, but make sure the photo is properly exposed and your face is lit from the front or the side. Besides, avoid taking selfies against the main light source or with overhead lighting. Additionally, natural light possesses a warmth that makes you look like you're glowing.(发光)
When taking selfies, angles also matter a lot. Hold the camera away from your face, and try to take photos both horizontally(水平地) and vertically. If not, your face might look bigger than usual. Ideally, the universal selfie angle is 45 degrees above your head. But you should study your face at different angles because finding your best angle requires you having seen all of them.
One problem with selfies is that most have distracting backgrounds. You can always do more to show others your best side. Try to simplify the background by taking selfies outdoors or in spacious areas. Document yourself engaging in interesting activities-hiking with family members, visiting landmarks, or working out with friends. At least, you can make the photo appealing by getting rid of your outstretched arm or a background that's too busy.
You can also download some photo apps that allow you to adjust the lighting and contrast. Some apps offer useful filters(滤光器), which can change your skin tone and eliminate pimples (粉刺) on your face.To get an image of high quality, you need to _______.
A.be under the light source |
B.be against the main light |
C.face the main light source |
D.have the photo fully exposed |
How can you find the angle that suits you most?
A.Study your face at different angles. |
B.Hold the camera far enough from you. |
C.Keep the camera lower than your face. |
D.Place the camera 45 degrees above your head. |
Which of the following should be avoided when taking selfies?
A.The use of natural light. |
B.A landmark as a background. |
C.Changes of the skin tone. |
D.A busy background. |
The sharing economy has grown in recent years to include everything from apartment' sharing to car sharing to community tool sharing. Since 2009, a new form of sharing economy has been emerging in neighborhoods throughout the US and around the world-Little Free Library. The libraries are boxes placed in neighborhoods from which residents can withdraw(取出) and deposit(存入) books. Little Free Libraries come in all shapes and sizes. Some libraries also have themes, focusing on books for children, adults, or tour guides.
In 2009. Tod Bol built the first Little Free Library as a gift to his mother, who was a devoted reader. When he saw the people of his community gathering around it, exchanging conversation as well as books, he knew he wanted to take his simple idea further. "I think Little Free Libraries open the door to conversations we want to have with each other," Bol said. .
Since then, his idea has become a movement, spreading from state to state and country to country. According to Little FreeLibrary.org, there are now 18,000 0f the little structures around the world, located in each of the 50 US states and 70 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Internet has helped to spread Little Free Libraries. But an Atlantic article says the little, structures serve as a cure for a world of e-reader downloads . The little wooden boxes are refreshingly physical and human. For many people, the sense of discovery is Little Free Libraries' main appeal. "A girl walking home from school might pick up a graphic novel that gets her excited about reading; a man on his way to the bus stop might find a volume of poetry that changes his outlook on life," says the Atlantic article. "Every book is a potential source of inspiration "How do Little Free Libraries get their books?
A.Citizens shared them. |
B.Tod Bol donated them. |
C.US government provided them. |
D.The communities bought them. |
Why did Tod Bol want to build more Little Free Libraries?
A.He wanted to promote his idea worldwide. |
B.He was inspired by the sharing economy. |
C.They can offer neighbors more chances to talk. |
D.They are a gift to please his mother. |
What does the author of the Atlantic article believe?
A.The Internet has helped to spread Little Free Libraries. |
B.Little Free Libraries are physical and human. |
C.E-reader downloads are undoubtedly beneficial. |
D.Little Free Libraries are more popular than e-reader downloads. |
Little Free Libraries attract readers most in that ______.
A.they connect strangers together |
B.they are located all over the world |
C.they are in various shapes and sizes |
D.they may give readers a sense of discovery |
Upon entering college, Yang Yi was uncertain about a lot of things. However, the 19-year-old international economics and trade student was certain about one thing: She wanted to participate in animal welfare efforts.
“I'm .always a nature and animal lover," she said. She joined the environmental protection association at her school. Now being president of a group of 25, she leads its efforts to help stray(流浪)cats and dogs by raising money to buy them food and collecting old clothes to make them homes.
However, sometimes the association raises doubts. Some students have questioned whether helping stray animals breaks the laws of nature. "We tried to resolve the controversy," Yang said. “For wild animals, the best way to protect them is to preserve their environment and their natural habitat, and to let them live their own way. However, for animals that depend heavily on humans, such as dogs and cats, the proper way to treat them is to respect them and take care of them." Besides, if not accommodated properly, stray animals can bring threats to public health, as they are the main cause of rabies(狂犬病)in cities. "Now, many young people in China have agreed upon the need to strike a balance between humans and nature. The only problem is how," said Yang. Yang and her fellow volunteers are cautious about what they do to help. For instance, sometimes people feed stray cats human food such as chocolate. But Yang and her friends point that such food can be dangerous to stray cats.
Yang also cooperates with Non-Governmental Organizations to spread animal protection knowledge. One of their recent exhibits was about animals in the entertainment industry. "We are still figuring out the best way to protect animals, but simple deeds such as saying no to animal performances can prevent wildlife from being captured and tamed. Step by step, we'll eventually reach our goal," she said. Why did Yang Yi join the environmental protection association?
A.She majored in a relevant field. |
B.She wanted to protect nature and animals. |
C.She was uncertain about her life. |
D.She intended to know about animal welfare. |
What do the group members do for stray animals?
A.They shelter them with old clothes. |
B.They feed human food to them. |
C.They train them for entertainment. |
D.They donate money to the association. |
In paragraph 3,Yang believes that
A.all animals should live naturally |
B.young people have known how to balance human and nature |
C.stray animals are bound to spread rabies |
D.chocolate is not a proper food for stray cats |
What does Yang Yi think of her work?
A.Enjoyable. | B.Doubtful. | C.Hopeful. | D.Awful. |
Ben walked quietly. He wanted to surprise the hunter. But then, what would he do?
Suddenly he heard a bird’s wings beating the dry grass. Ben moved quickly toward the sound.
He saw a colored head… the head of a beautiful bird. The bird did not move until Ben came close. Then it tried to fly away, but one wing was broken.
Ben lifted the bird and held it close against his body. The bird fought to escape, but soon lay quietly in Ben’s arms.
Ben decided to take the bird home and fix its broken wing so that it could fly again.
He was almost out of the woods when he heard the hunter behind him.
You just found that bird? the hunter asked.
Yes, Ben answered.
It is mine!
Ben was afraid and tried to answer, but his mouth was too dry to speak. Nevertheless, he wetted his lips and said, No.
I shot him and I say he is mine!
But he is not dead yet, Ben answered, and besides, anything on my land belongs to me.
The hunter looked down at the little man and smiled. Say,who are you?”
Bens voice shook with both fear and anger. I own this land. There are signs everywhere that say, No hunting.
No need to get angry, mister, the hunter said, Control yourself.
There was something threatening in the mans cool quiet voice. And he had a gun. His arms were free and Bens were not.
The hunter stepped closer and said, Give me that bird!
Ben was white with anger, No! he answered. His eye glasses became wet and he had to look over the top of them to see the other man.
Give me the bird and I will go away, the hunter said.
You get off my land, Ben told him. Get off right now you do not belong here!
The man’s face got red. Mister, he said, I have been hunting here all my life. I grew up here.
That is a thing of the past. Ben said. I do not know who you are and I do not care. I own this place now and I'm tellingyou to leave. You go back through the woods and get off my land!
Now look, mister, the hunter said, be reasonable.
The hunter raised his gun.
A cold wind blew across Bens face. He looked into the hunter’s gray eyes. Ben was frightened. It was not too late, he thought. He could still give the bird to the hunter and return safely home that would end this whole ugly business.
The bird struggled weakly and made a wild, strange noise.
Then Ben knew he could never give this bird to the hunter. This feeling gave Ben great strength, and he was no longer afraid.
I will never let you kill this bird, he said. Get away from here. If you try to take this bird, I will fight… you have a gun and you are bigger, but that does not worry me. You will never get this bird… you will have to kill me first.
The two men looked at each other. Ben’s fear returned. His knees began to shake and felt sick. Yet he stood straight, wondering what would happen next.
They stood close to each other for a long time. The woods are strangely quiet. Then the hunters rough voice broke the silence.
You are a fool. And then to Bens surprise, he slowly walked away.
Ben watched until he was gone. His arms hurt, his body felt wet and cold.Why did the hunter smile when saying Say, who are you (Paragraph 13)?
A.He was amused at Bens reply and interested in him. |
B.He wanted to confirm Bens identity in a friendly way. |
C.He looked down on Ben and thought his reply ridiculous. |
D.He meant to be friendly enough to get the bird from Ben. |
What strengthened Bens determination never to give the bird to the hunter?
A.His strong dislike of the hunter. |
B.His firm confidence in himself. |
C.His ownership of this piece of land. |
D.His concern and sympathy for the bird. |
The hunter thought Ben a fool in the end because _______.
A.Ben tried to protect a bird at all costs |
B.Ben insisted he should leave the land |
C.Ben pretended to be fearless though scared |
D.Ben stood close to him saying nothing for long |
It can be learned from the passage that _______.
A.Ben held out to the end |
B.Ben never thought of giving in |
C.Ben was willing to compromise |
D.Ben was sure about his victory |