We use both words and body language to express our thoughts and opinions and to communicate with other people. We can learn a lot about what a person is thinking by watching his or her body language. Words are important, but the way a person stands, folds his or her arms, or moves his or her hands can also give us information about his or her feelings.
Just like spoken language, body language varies from culture to culture. Making eye contact—looking directly into someone's eyes—is in some countries a way to show interest. In other countries, however, eye contact is rude or disrespectful. The gesture for OK, making a circle with one's thumb and index finger, has different meanings in different cultures. In Japan, someone who sees another person making the gesture will think it means money. In France, a person seeing the same gesture will think it means zero. In Brazil and Germany, however, the gesture is rude. The thumbs-up gesture, meaning “great” or “good job” in the US, is rude in Nigeria, but in Germany and Japan it means the number one. The “crazy” gesture, moving the index finger in a circle in front of the ear, means “you have a phone call” in Brazil.
Even the gestures we use for “yes” and “no” are different around the world. In many countries, shaking one's head means “no”， and Iran, however, the gesture have the opposite meaning. There are also differences as to how often we touch each other, how close we stand to someone we are talking to, and how we act when we meet or part. In some countries, for example France and Russia, a visiting friend is greeted each other with a firm handshake, a loving hug, a bow or simply a nod of the head.
While there are many different interpretations of our body languages, some gestures seem to be universal. Pressing one's palms together and resting one's head on the back of one's hand while closing the eyes as if sleeping means “I am tired.” A good way of saying “I am full.” is moving the hand in circles over the stomach after a meal. If a person pats his or her stomach before a meal, it usually means “I am hungry.”
Perhaps the best example of universally understood body language is the smile. A smile can open doors and tear down walls. In can be used to express almost any emotion. We can use a smile to apologize, to greet someone, to ask for help or to start a conversation. We can smile at ourselves in the mirror to make ourselves feel happier and stronger. And if we are feeling down or lonely, there is nothing better than to see the smiling face of a good friend.In which two countries does the thumbs-up gesture mean the same thing?
| A．In the US and Nigeria. |
| B．In Japan and Germany. |
| C．In Nigeria and Germany. |
| D．In Japan and Brazil. |
Which of the following can serve as the topic sentence of the passage?
| A．Body language differs from cultures to culture. |
| B．People send messages not only by words. |
| C．Body language is important in our daily life. |
| D．Smile plays an important part in our life. |
It can be learned that body language________.
| A．always takes place when we're talking |
| B．can help us to read a person's mind |
| C．is always necessary in communicating |
| D．can't mean the same in different cultures |
Why Rent Textbooks?
Renting textbooks is a relatively new idea for everyone. Back in the old days, the idea of renting one never existed since the books are affordable or readily available in libraries. But the time has changed and with the changes in educational system and various economic challenges happening across the globe, the price of textbooks increased.
Given such fact, textbook renting is now a new fashion among college students. Research was made to find out if renting helps one save money and time rather than buying new textbooks and realized that it really is. Let’s examine carefully further and see why renting books is a cost-effective way to still get to have your textbooks without shelling too much money from your pocket.
Gives value for your money
You don’t have to buy all of your textbooks. Those non-major subjects, are better acquired through renting. It saves one money and helps you give out the money you save on some other personal possessions you need in college.
Renting textbooks allows you to save at least 50% off the standard retail (零售) price for each item. You can tell, with a little research, that renting is a lot cheaper compared to buying used books aside from looking way better than the former.
Saves time
You can save a great deal of time when renting a textbook. Instead of browsing your way for hours trying to look for better deals online, you can simply go to a popular book renting marketplace online and just order away. There is literally no need to skimming for hours and see where you can find a great deal. Often, the rental company gives you prepaid postage slip just to get you going and do the same when you decide to return the book.
This process not only saves you time, it also saves other resources like gas if you decide to go to the nearest bookstore to buy books or spend hours using electricity just to find a good deal.
User Friendly
Aside from being able to save money and time, renting textbooks brings convenience to all users. Imagine trying to scan the virtual bookshelf and checking on comments of previous users and figuring out which ones got bad comments and which had great ones. It could be fun at first but if you are short of time, the process can become annoying.
If you rent books, you will only be needing the book’s ISBN number and find it right away. No more time-wasting site search. Type in the ISBN number, order the book, and wait for it to get shipped to your home.The reason why people haven’t the habit of renting textbooks in the old days is that ______.
| A．the educational system has not changed by now |
| B．people can afford books or get books easily in libraries |
| C．different economic challenges happen across the world |
| D．the price of textbooks is much higher than that of nowadays |
The underlined word “shelling” in paragraph 2 means “______”.
| A．saving | B．spending | C．removing | D．wasting |
The following statements are the reasons why textbook renting is now a new fashion among college students EXCEPT ______.
| A．One can save a great deal of time in browsing for better deals online |
| B．It brings convenience to all the users apart from saving money and time |
| C．The process saves other resources if you don’t go to the nearest bookstore |
| D．It saves one money and helps him spend money on what he need most in college |
The passage mainly tells us that ______.
| A．renting textbooks allows you to save a lot of money |
| B．renting a textbook can also save you a great deal of time |
| C．textbook renting was a relatively new fashion among college students |
| D．textbook renting is a money-saving, fun, and, convenient way for college students |
NBA commissioner David Stern was in Orlando on Thursday night, getting ready for Sunday’s All-Star Game.Of course, all he could talk about was the only player anyone wants to talk about these days: New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.
Hours before Lin took the court against the Heat, a few hundred miles South down I-95 in Miami, Stern told reporters that Lin’s instant popularity hasn’t ever been matched in sports history, not even by Sunday’s biggest names, LeBron James or Kobe Bryant.
The Associated Press had the details.
“I haven’t done a calculation, but it’s fair to say that no player has created the interest and the craze in this short period of time, in any sport, that I’m aware of likeJeremy Linhas,” Stern said Thursday.
Lin, an undrafted(未选秀的)guard from Harvard, has become the NBA’s biggest story since coming off theKnicks’bench earlier this month to lead them to nine wins in 11 games heading into their matchup with Miami on Thursday night.
With Lin’s popularity in Asia as the league’s first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent, and with the religious community because of his strong Christian faith, Stern says he’s “never quite seen anything like” the attention on Lin.
“It’s fascinating,” Stern said after the All-Star Jam Session opening ceremonies.
The top five videos on NBA.com since Feb. 4, when Lin joined the circulation, are all Lin or Knicks related. Lin went from 190,000 followers on Sina, China’s version of Twitter, on Feb. 2 to more than 1 million as of Feb. 16.
Indeed, Lin’s popularity is so out of this world that the NBA made a late list switch to ensure his participation in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Saturday, a game that includes the NBA’s best rookies(新秀球员)and sophomores. Lin is in such high demand that all of the game’s other participants will meet with the media following a team practice on Friday while Lin will have his own, separate press conference later in the night.
This is Jeremy’s world, folks. We’re all just living in it. Even David Stern and the rest of the league’s All-Stars, at least for the moment.The following statements about Jeremy Lin’s instant popularity are true EXCEPT that ______.
| A．Jeremy Lin led New York Knicks to win all the recent games this month |
| B．David Stern said Lin was the only instant popular player in NBA’s history |
| C．Lin has become the NBA’s greatest story though he was an undrafted guard |
| D．no player has created the interest and the enthusiasm in such a short period of time |
Why did Jeremy Lin have so many followers in Asia on Sina, China’s version of Twitter?
A. Because Jeremy Lin was born in Taiwan with strong Christian faith.
B. Maybe because he is the first player born in America but has Chinese descent.
C. Because Sina has a large group of surfing people, maybe more than 10 million.
D. Because the top five videos on NBA. com since Feb. 4 are all Lin or Knicks related.The underlined phrase “out of this world” in Paragraph 9 may probably be replaced by ______.
| A．impossible | B．important | C．exceptional | D．excellent |
What can we learn from the above passage about Jeremy Lin’s instant popularity?
| A．Knowledge starts with practice. | B．Failure is the mother of success. |
| C．Every dog has its day. | D．No pains, no gains. |
We were driving on the right road when, all of a sudden, a black car pulled out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver stepped on his brake, skidded(打滑), and missed the black car’s back end by just inches! The driver of the black car, who almost caused a major accident, turned his head angrily and started shouting bad words at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, my taxi driver was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to hospital!” And the following is what my taxi driver told me, which I now call “the law of the Garbage Truck”.
“Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump(倾卸)it. And if you let them, they dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish him well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier.”
So this is “The Law of the Garbage Truck”. I started thinking: How often do I let “Garbage Trucks” run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was then that I said, “I’m not going to do it any more.”
I began to see “Garbage Trucks”. I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don’t make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, and move on.
Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. What about you? The mark of a successful person is how quickly he can get back his focus on what’s important.Who acted like a garbage truck in the accident described in the first two paragraphs?
| A．The author. | B．The taxi driver. |
| C．The driver of the black car. | D．Both drivers. |
The reason why the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy is that ______.
| A．the black car was full of garbage |
| B．the taxi driver didn’t want his mood ruined |
| C．the driver of the black car didn’t cause any damage to the taxi |
| D．the driver of the black car was angry and the taxi driver felt a little frightened |
The underlined part “the load” in Paragraph 5 refers to _____.
| A．bad mood | B．excitement | C．new products | D．waste materials |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．Always be kind and hardworking. |
| B．Ignore unpleasantness and stick to your tasks. |
| C．Try to be good leaders as well as good parents. |
| D．Do things quickly so as to be ready for the next. |
Lie in bed, by an open window, and listen…
“No air conditioning? How can you sleep?” a friend asks, horrified. I tell her my family has decided to shut the air conditioner off and reduce our electric bill. On this first night of our cost-cutting plan, it’s only 85 degrees. We’re going to suffer, but the three kids complain anyway.
They have grown up in 72-degree comfort, protected from the world outside.
“It’s too hot to sleep,” my 13-year-old daughter complains. “I’m about to die from this heat,” her brother complains down the hall. “Just try it tonight,” I tell them. In truth I’m too tired to turn for long. My face is sweaty, but I lie quietly listening to the cricket choirs outside that remind me of childhood.
The neighbor’s dog howls. Probably a passing squirrel. It’s been years since I took the time to really listen to the night.
I think about grandma, who lived to 92 and still helped with my mom’s gardening until just a few weeks before she died. And then, I’m back there at her house in the summer heat of my childhood. I move my pillow to the foot of grandma’s bed and turn my face toward the open window. I turn the pillow, hunting for the cooler side.
Grandma saw me turn over and over. “If you just watch for the breeze(清风),” she said, “you’ll cool off and fall asleep.” I stare at the filmy white curtain, willing it to move. Lying still, waiting, I suddenly notice the life outside the window. The bug chorus. Neighbors, porch(门廊)-sitting late, speak in unclear words that calm me.
“Mom, did you hear that?” my seven-year-old son cries, “I think it was an owl(猫头鹰)family.”
“Probably,” I tell him, “just keep listening…”
Without the working air conditioner, the house is peaceful, and the natural night noises seem close enough to touch. I hope I’m awake tonight when the first breeze comes in.On the first night of the writer’s cost-cutting plan, her children ______.
| A．live a comfortable life as usual |
| B．begin to be unhappy |
| C．are protected from the world outside |
| D．are about to die from the heat |
The author talks about her grandmother and her childhood to show that ______.
| A．people used to live a hard life |
| B．people at that time were hardworking |
| C．it’s OK for people to live a simple life |
| D．she has learned a great deal from her grandma |
In the writer’s eyes, her children are ______.
| A．free from parents’ protection |
| B．full of dissatisfaction with life |
| C．dependable because of parents’ love |
| D．lacking in real test of hardships in life |
Which of the following titles best suits the passage?
| A．Waiting for the Breeze. |
| B．An Interesting Experience. |
| C．Life at Present and Life in the Past. |
| D．Different Times, Different Children |
How much do you want to pay for a CD by your favorite singer Jay Chou? Five Yuan for a pirated(盗版的) one, or more for a real one? Wang Ye, 14, said she would like the real one although the pirated one is cheaper.” A real one is worth keeping for years.” said the girl from No.1 middle school in Wu Han, Anhui. “Real CDs always sound better to me.”
What can we do? People want to do more to help those like Wang to get real CDs.
This week the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry asked many countries to act against piracy(盗版行为).
In many places in China, the government is checking audio and video products. Pirated ones are broken into pieces.
Piracy is in your daily life. Don’t believe it? A study by 21st Century Teens found that more than 75 percent of juniors had listened to pirated music. They say this is because pirated products are usually much cheaper than the real ones.
Why are real CDs so expensive? When a music company makes music, it needs to pay the song writers and singers. It costs a lot of money! This makes the price of the CDs go up. Piracy like stealing. People who make pirated copies of CDs take away the writers’ and singers’ work without paying them. They even don’t ask them if they can.
So next time you’d better keep your eyes brightened when you see cheap CDs. Remember you’re helping someone to do something wrong if you buy them.
How do you know what’s real.
Already made up your mind to buy real ones? Well, you should get to know what real CDs look like. A real CD has the name and trademark(商标) of the music company on the cover. The company’s address, telephone number and fax number are on it.
If you open the CD box you'll see the singer's name and the album title. Most important of all, a real CD has a number from the IFPI on it.
But people who make pirated CDs only need the real CD and disks to copy them. That’s why some CDs are only five Yuan, but some many sell for 150 Yuan.Real CDs are more expensive because ______.
| A．it takes longer to make them |
| B．more people are needed to make them |
| C．a lot of money is paid to singers and writers. |
| D．better ways are used to make them |
Buying pirated CDs is just like _______.
| A．stealing |
| B．robbing |
| C．helping someone to do something wrong |
| D．helping someone |
From the passage we get to know that some pirated company are_______.
| A．moved away | B．doing something wrong | C．broken | D．made smaller |