There are times when nothing seems to be working in our favor. We may use complaining as a coping mechanism (办法，途经) when we are truly unhappy. However, there are many times when we don’t try our best and just want things to work our way. We may try to cover our faults by complaining about the unfairness of it all. These are expressive complaints where the complainer just wants to let out his/her anger or frustration, with no real intention of solving the problem. The complainer expects pity and recognition from the listeners although the results often disappoint him/her.
Sometimes, we use complaints as a conversation starter. Conversations that start with a complaint often have a domino effect. It may cause the listener to include his/her complaints in the conversation as well, which makes you think that you are not the only one facing problems. However, your good feeling won’t last long as long as you are always focusing on the negative.
When complaining becomes a habit, you complain to anyone that comes around. Negativity that comes from complaining kills creativity and innovation (创新). Habitual complainers are less likely to come up with new ideas, as they are busy finding faults and discourage others from trying new things by making them feel that they won’t work. When you spend time with people who constantly complain, you are likely to view things in a negative light. This will make things worse. This can affect the way you perceive your own situation, and even the people around you.
Though expressing your feelings may momentarily improve your state of mind, it could sometimes have a bad effect on the listener’s state of mind. A recent study has shown that at social gatherings while people who are unhappy may join you when you play the victim at the beginning, the majority would start avoiding you because of your negativity.Why do people who don’t try their best often complain?
| A．They want to get others’ pity. |
| B．It is the best way to let out their anger. |
| C．They try to find an excuse for their faults. |
| D．They hope to get a solution to their problems. |
According to Paragraph 2, complaints in conversations ________.
| A．are easy to deal with |
| B．can spread to others |
| C．may help you make friends |
| D．help focus on the similar unfairness |
What do we know about habitual complainers?
| A．They can hardly influence others in their negative way. |
| B．They can get momentary comfort by complaining. |
| C．They have a better understanding of their faults. |
| D．They are more likely to put forward new ideas. |
According to the author, complaining at social gatherings is ________.
| A．unusual | B．acceptable |
| C．unwelcome | D．frustrating |
Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don’t make unnecessary noise, particularly, at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful, the traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossing(人行横道) and don’t take any chance when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn’t lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards smoking, it is against law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to any policeman.The phrase “take any chance” in the passage means .
| A．冒险，碰运气 | B．趁机 |
| C．失去机会 | D．生气 |
Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?
| A．A guide | B．A person who makes the law |
| C．A teacher | D．An English officer |
How many laws are there discussed in the speech?
| A．Three | B．Four | C．Five | D．Six |
The main purpose of this speech is to ________ .
| A．tell people above 18 can smoke and drink there |
| B．declare the different laws of England |
| C．give advice to travelers to the country |
| D．warn people against going to the country |
From the speech we have learnt that __________ .
| A．if you are 18 years of age, you may not buy wine, but your friends can buy it for you here. |
| B．you may not buy cigarettes or tobacco unless you are above 16 years of age. |
| C．because of the left-side traffic rule, you must use pedestrian when crossing the road. |
| D．you can’t make a noise except at night. |
Once a boy came to ask a fisherman how to become cleverer, because his mother always called him “foolish boy”.
“That’s easy,” answered the fisherman. “I know one way to make you become cleverer.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It is said a fish head is good for brain. If you eat one, you’ll become cleverer indeed. Pay only three pounds for one fish head.” The boy paid him three pounds and the fisherman cut off a fish head and handed it to him.
A raw fish head is not good—not even for a hungry boy to eat but the boy ate it up in two gulps.
“Do you feel anything?” asked the fisherman.
“Not in my head,” said the boy.
The boy lay on the ground and thought. “One whole fish costs only two pounds. I have paid him three pounds for the fish head. Why couldn’t I have the whole fish for soup, a head for brain and one pound left over?” He jumped up and shouted at the fisherman. “You thief! You are fooling me!” The fisherman laughed, saying, “The fish head works now, you see.”The boy ate up the raw fish head only in two gulps, because he __________.
| A．enjoyed it | B．wanted to taste it |
| C．took it as a good medicine | D．was a foolish boy |
The boy came to the fisherman in order to __________.
| A．buy a fish head | B．ask the fisherman a question |
| C．buy a whole fish | D．A and C |
The boy paid three pounds. He should have had __________.
| A．a whole fish |
| B．a fish head and one pound back |
| C．a whole fish and one pound back |
| D．a whole fish, a fish head and one pound back |
__________ helped the boy become cleverer.
| A．A good meal | B．The raw fish head |
| C．Nothing | D．What had happened |
A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders (想知道): Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly! there are some differences between British and American English. ‘There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “ colour” and “ honour” are British, “color” and “honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that_______.
| A．British people cannot understand him |
| B．American people cannot understand him |
| C．the grammar is too hard for him |
| D．the spelling is too hard for him |
American English and British English are different in ________.
| A．spelling | B．pronunciation |
| C．Grammar | D．all of the above |
What is not mentioned (提及) in the passage?
| A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English. |
| B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two. |
| C．How the differences between British English and American English came about. |
| D．How important the differences are. |
Most ________ say “Do you have a watch?”
| A．British people | B．Americans |
| C．Children | D．Teachers |
Dear Editor(编辑),
I used to be a doctor in a children’s hospital. Sometimes I treated children who had been poisoned（中毒）by medicines for older family members. The children didn’t know the medicine was dangerous; they just knew it tasted sweet. Children easily opened the bottle that we now use in China.
Some days ago I talked about medicine with an American. He showed me a kind of plastic bottle. The design was very quite simple and I’m sure our Chinese factories could produce these bottles. The top of the bottle locks but can be opened by pressing down on it while turning. This is difficult for most young children to do, though grown-ups can open these bottles very easily.
I’m certain that the price of making such tops would be very low. As a doctor, I’d love to see this done. And most parents would be grateful.
Yours,
Li HuaThe writer’s job in the hospital was mainly to________.
| A．treat sick children | B．treat poisoned children |
| C．give medicine to people | D．give medicine to children |
The doctor seems to be ________.
| A．happy about China’s hospital |
| B．angry with what has happened |
| C．anxious to solve the problem |
| D．pleased with his invention |
The doctor thinks that we should ________.
| A．study the Americans |
| B．buy that kind of bottle |
| C．produce this kind of plastic bottle |
| D．turn to Americans for help |
The letter was written to the editor to ask for______.
| A．money from the newspaper |
| B．the plastic bottles from the readers |
| C．medicine from the editor |
| D．support from the Chinese factories |
Robert is nine years old and Joanna is seven. They live at Mount Ebenezer. Their father has a big property. In Australia they call a farm a property.
Robert and Joana like school very much. At school they can talk to their friends, but Robert and Joanna can not see their friends. They live 100,perhaps 300,miles away and like Robert and Joanna, they all go to school by radio.
Mount Ebenezer is in the centre of Australia. Not many people in “The Centre”, there are no schools with desks and blackboards and no teachers in “The Centre”. School is a room at home with a two-way radio. When all students answer, lessons begin.
Think of your teacher 300 miles away!The children in “The Centre” do not go to school because _____________.
| A．they live too far away from one another |
| B．they do not like school |
| C．they are not old enough to go to school |
| D．their families are too poor |
In order to send their children to school, parents in “The Centre” of Australia must have ___________________.
| A．a property | B．a car |
| C．a school room at home | D．a special radio |
When children are having a lesson, they can hear their teacher ______________.
| A．but their teacher cannot hear them |
| B．and their teacher can hear them too |
| C．but can not hear their schoolmates. |
| D．and see him or her at the same time. |
A “property” in Australia is a _________________.
| A．house | B．school | C．farm | D．radio |