When you are reading something in English, you may often meet with a new word. What’s the best way to know it?
You may look it up in the English-Chinese dictionary. It will tell you a lot about the word: the pronunciation, the Chinese meaning and how to use the word. But how can you know where the word is thousands of English words? How to find it in the dictionary both quickly and correctly?
First, all the English words are arranged(安排) in the letter order. In the dictionary you can first see the words beginning with letter A, then B, C, D…. That means, if there are two words “desert” and “pull”, “desert” will be certainly before “pull”. Then if there are two words both beginning with the same letter, you may look at the second letter. Then the third, the fourth… For example, “pardon” is before “plough”, “judge” before “just”, etc.
Do you understand how to look up in the dictionary?
The dictionary will be your good friend. I hope you’ll use it as often as possible in your English study.This passage is about______.
| A．new words in writing |
| B．different dictionaries |
| C．the best way of reading |
| D．using an English-Chinese dictionary |
In the dictionary you may not find_______.
| A．how to pronounce the word |
| B．the spelling of the word |
| C．who used the word first |
| D．how to use the word |
In an English-Chinese dictionary, the last word______.
| A．begins with Z | B．begins with A |
| C．is a short one | D．is not often used |
Which group of words is in the right order in an English-Chinese dictionary?
| A．perhaps, produce, plenty |
| B．straight, subject, surprise |
| C．century, center, business |
| D．foreign, entrance, headache |
In the passage the writer tries to tell us that_______.
| A．we have to use a dictionary when we read something in English |
| B．an English-Chinese dictionary can tell us everything about a word |
| C．an English-Chinese dictionary can help us a lot in our English study |
| D．all English-Chinese dictionary are the same |
Beethoven, a famous musician in the world, was born in Germany in 1770.
In his childhood Beethoven didn’t have a happy life. His father was a singer. When he was only four, his father began to make him practise hour after hour on different musical instruments. If he did not put his heart into it, his father would beat him or make it hard on him.
Beethoven loved music and he learned so fast that he was able to go around to give concerts, when he was only a boy of eleven. At the age of seventeen, he won high praise from Mozart, the great musician at that time.
Beethoven was often poor and ill during his life. After one illness, he suddenly found himself deaf．At that time he was only thirty-one. It was a blow（打击）to him indeed.
But he still went on working and writing music pieces. To people’s surprise, some of his best pieces were written after he lost his hearing.
In 1827, leaving more than 300 pieces, the great musician died. But his name is still remembered to this day.
Why didn’t Beethoven have a happy life in his childhood?
A. Because his family was poor.
B. Because he had to practice a lot of musical instruments.
C. Because his father was strict with him.
D. Both B and C.When were some of his best pieces written?
| A．At the age of 11. | B．At the age of 17. |
| C．Before he was deaf. | D．After he became deaf. |
What did Beethoven do after he lost his hearing?
| A．He never gave in . |
| B．He stopped writing music pieces. |
| C．He lost his heart. |
| D．He went to see a doctor. |
How many pieces did the musician write during his life?
| A．200. | B．300. | C．400. | D．100. |
Beethoven didn’t like music as a child, did he?
| A．Yes, he did. | B．No, he didn’t. |
| C．Yes, he didn’t. | D．No, he did. |
Dear Boris,
Thanks for your nice letter.
After I had spent a week with my English family, I slowly began to understand their English a little better. It’s very different from what I learned at school! Students in my group are from different cities of Britain and their dialects (方言) are different too! Some of their accents (口音) are quite strong and they also have their own words and expressions.
But it’s not the language that’s different and surprising. Before I came to England I had thought that fish and chips were eaten every day. That’s quite wrong! I get rather mad now when I hear all the foolish words about typical (典型的) English food.
I had expected to see “London fog”. Do you remember our texts about it? We had no idea that most of this ‘thick fog’ disappeared many years ago when people stopped using coal in their homes. But the idea to speak about the weather was very helpful. The weather in London is really changeable.
On the other hand habits are different. People tell me what is typically British here in London is not always typical in Wales or Scotland. Local habits and traditions are not the same as what we knew.
But what is ordinary for all British is that they follow traditions. Probably Britain has more living signs of its past than many other countries. And people have always been proud of having ancient buildings in capitals, big cities and the countryside.
I will tell you more about Britain in my other letters.
Love from Britain,
PeterWhat does Pete feel about the English language?
| A．At first it was difficult for him to understand people. |
| B．He can understand different dialects and accents. |
| C．He can speak English better than others. |
| D．People can’t understand his English. |
Typical English food _______.
| A．makes people mad | B．can’t be seen now |
| C．is always fish and chips | D．is not what he knew |
The British people like to talk about weather because ________.
| A．there is thick fog in London |
| B．they like the weather in Britain |
| C．the weather changes a lot |
| D．it can be helpful |
What do you know about habits in Britain from the passage?
| A．They are not the same in different parts of Britain. |
| B．Habits in Wales and Scotland are typically British. |
| C．There are no typical British habits in Britain. |
| D．All that is typically British is in London. |
Which is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．What he’s seen is quite different from what he’d learned |
| B．British people like to follow traditions. |
| C．Peter had learned about Britain before. |
| D．Peter doesn’t like his life in Britain. |
We often find that weekends and holidays feel so short while classes and work feel so long. Actually, though, we know that this is not true. But we still wonder where that strange feeling comes from.
In fact, this is one of the ways that we’re tricked by time, according to the website All That Is Interesting. The website lists several wrong impressions we often have about time. Let’s have a look.
First of all, emotions affect our time-keeping abilities. Negative emotions, especially anxiety and boredom, make time seem longer because they make us concentrate more on the passage of time. However, when we are enjoying ourselves, we pay more attention to what we are doing and are likely to lose track of (失去对……的意识) time.
Here is another example. In 2007, a group of scientists carried out a test. In the test, people fell 50 meters into a safety net and were then asked about their experience. Although the experience took shorter than 3 seconds, the people thought it was much longer than it actually was.
This is because of the way our bodies reply to danger, according to the scientists. Our bodies produce a chemical called adrenaline ( 肾 上 腺 素 ) when we are faced with danger. It allows us to concentrate better so that we can stay alive. As a result, we are able to remember far more details ( 细 节 )over a short period of time, which makes it seem like time is going more slowly.
Another situation when we make mistakes about time is when we take afternoon naps (午觉). Have you ever had trouble telling what time it is after a long nap? That’s because the best amount of time for a nap is 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, you enter a new stage of sleep called slow-wave sleep. If you wake up mid-way in this stage, it will take a while before you can correctly perceive (感知) time again.
Yes, time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it. So, perhaps the best thing to do is to make good use of every minute. According to the passage, what possibly makes people feel so long ?
| A．weekends and holidays | B．weekends and work |
| C．classes and work | D．holidays and work |
Which is NOT the wrong impressions that we often have about time according to the the website listing?
| A．negative emotions | B．positive emotions |
| C．adrenaline | D．scientists |
According to the passage, in which situation do we make mistakes about time?
| A．We have many problems left in the test paper, but the time is up. |
| B．We have a math test when we fall down from a high place. |
| C．We may have trouble telling what time it is after a long nap. |
| D．We go to school on the school bus as usual on weekdays . |
According to the passage , what will NOT happen when we are faced with danger ?
| A．Our bodies will produce a chemical called adrenaline. |
| B．We are able to feel that time seems to go more slowly. |
| C．Adrenaline will make us concentrate better to stay alive. |
| D．We will forget far more details over a short period of time. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage ?
| A．Negative emotions, especially anxiety and boredom, make time seem longer because they make us concentrate more on the passage of time. |
| B．When we are enjoying ourselves, we pay more attention to what we are doing and we are able to feel like time is going more slowly. |
| C．If we wake up mid-way after a long nap, it will take a while before we can correctly perceive time again. |
| D．Time can be mysterious and there is no way to control it.So, perhaps the best thing to do is to make good use of every minute. |
Our new foreign students are going to arrive very soon, and here are some ways to welcome them.
How close do you stand when you talk to a friend? You can stand close to people in the Middle East but don’t stand too close to North Americans! Give them more personal space.
How about touching people? Chinese girls often walk arm in arm with their friends. South Americans sometimes hold your arm when they talk to you, so you can’t move away! But in Britain may people don’t like other people to touch them at all.
Do you look at people when you talk? In some places, it isn’t polite to look at people when you talk, but in other countries it isn’t polite to look somewhere else. In Britain and the US, people usually look at each other when they talk.
And how do you say goodbye? That’s easy, wave to say goodbye. But be careful! In Greece, it’s not at all polite! In fact, it’s very rude!From the passage, we should givemore personal space.
| A．people in the Middle East | B．people in North America |
| C．people in the South America | D．people in North China |
The underlined word “touch” meansin Chinese.
| A．触碰 | B．打击 | C．感动 | D．震撼 |
We can’t wave to say goodbye in .
| A．America | B．Japan | C．Britain | D．Greece |
How many ways are given to communicate with foreign students?
| A．Two | B．Three | C．Four | D．Five |
What’s the best title of this passage?
| A．Saying goodbye | B．Touching people |
| C．Looking at people | D．communicating politely |
Jack is a twenty-year-old young man. Two years ago, when he finished middle school, he found work in a shop. Usually he works until ten o'clock in the evening. He is very tired when he gets home. After a quick supper he goes to bed and soon falls asleep. His grandma who lives downstairs is satisfied with (满意) him.
One day, on his way home, he met Mary. They were both happy. He asked the girl to his house, she agreed happily. He bought some fruit and drinks for her. And they talked about their school, teachers, classmates and their future . They talked for a long time.
“Have a look at your watch, please,” said the girl. “What time is it now?”
“Sorry, something is wrong with my watch,” said Jack. “Where's yours?”
“I left it at home.”
Jack thought for a moment and found a way. He began to stamp his foot on the floor, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The sound woke his grandma up. The old woman shouted downstairs, “It's twelve o'clock in the night, Jack. Why are you still jumping upstairs?”Jack was ________ when he finished middle school.
| A．sixteen | B．eighteen | C．twenty | D．fifteen |
The old woman is satisfied with Jack because ________.
| A．he's her grandson | B．he's clever |
| C．he can keep quiet | D．he gets home on time |
From the story, we can know that Mary is Jack's ________.
| A．classmate | B．colleague (同事) |
| C．aunt | D．wife |
The word “stamp” in the story means ______ in Chinese.
| A．盖印 | B．跺 | C．贴邮票 | D．承认 |
Jack stamped his foot on the floor in order (为了) ________.
| A．to wake his grandma up |
| B．to make his grandma angry |
| C．that his grandma was going to tell him the time |
| D．that his grandma was going to buy him a watch |