The 115-year-old famous Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like “shanzhai” “youtiao” and “fangnu”, as part of the modern Chinese language.
As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever developing, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet powerful language.
For instance, the word “shanzhai” is used to describe the countless knockoffs(名牌仿制品).Another new term in the new edition is the word “fangnu”, a term used to describe the phenomenon in large cities where well-educated youth complain of a miserable existence due to the heavy burden of a home mortgage(按揭贷款).All these new or often fashionable terms can be found in the new Oxford English –Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary. that was unveiled(公布于众的)in the recently concluded Beijing International Book Fair last week.
This dictionary is the largest single volume English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary and contains 670,000 words and phrases after five years of preparation. Sixty editors from the Oxford University Press and its partner in China—the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press worked together on the project. According to Julie Kleeman, the dictionary’s chief editor, most of the firm’s editors were Chinese, while about one fourth were native-English speakers.
“We don’t want to make it florid(绚丽的), we want it to be modern and conversational. Many of the words in the present dictionary are no longer in use.” said Kleeman. “The need for studying Chinese by foreigners today is totally different from decades ago. Precise, native and practical—that is our main advantage,” she said. She added the dictionary also has a sidebar section that explains words which contain too much cultural information, like “hutong”, a traditional architecture style of Beijing. Another would be “youtian” the popular Chinese breakfast choice usually eaten with soybean milk.
Kleeman said in the future newer updated versions will be only available online as language often changes too quickly for book versions to keep up with. The online version will also offer a Chinese pronunciation guide.
The online version, allowing access via different platforms from the PC to the iPhones, will be ready “as soon as possible”, Kleeman said.Why will Oxford Dictionary include popular new Chinese terms?
A.To attract those who want to get a better understanding of Chinese. |
B.To develop the international working language, English. |
C.To keep up with the development of the world economy. |
D.To interest people and sell at a higher price. |
We can use the following words to describe this new dictionary EXCEPT__________.
A.accurate | B.flowery |
C.practical | D.native |
The newer updated versions will be only available online because______.
A.book versions are too expensive to buy |
B.book versions can’t offer a Chinese pronunciation guide |
C.they can keep up with the quickly changing language |
D.they will allow access in different languages |
What can we learn from the text?
A.Oxford Dictionary has a history of more than 100 decades. |
B.the word “shanzhai” can be only found in online versions. |
C.Most of the dictionary’s editors are native English speakers. |
D.Oxford Dictionary will be modern, practical and multifunctional |
Everybody has one of those days when everything goes wrong. This is what happened to Harry.
He got up one morning very late because he had forgotten to wind up his alarm clock. He tried to shave(刮脸)quickly and cut himself. When he got dressed he got blood all over his clean shirt, so he had to find another one. The only other shirt that was clean needed ironing(熨), so he ironed it. While he was ironing it, there was a knock at the door. It was the man to read the electricity meter(表). He showed him where the meter was, said good-bye and found that the iron had burnt a hole in his shirt. So he had to wear the one with the blood on it after all. By this time it was very late, so he decided he couldn’t go to work by bus. He telephoned for a taxi to take him to work. The taxi arrived and Harry got in and began to read the newspaper.
In another part of the town, a man had killed a woman with a knife and was seen to run away in a taxi. When Harry’s taxi stopped outside his office, a policeman happened to be standing there. He saw the blood on Harry’s shirt, and took him to the police station. He was kept till 3 o’clock in the afternoon before the police were sure that he was not the man they wanted. When he finally arrived at the office at about four, his boss took a look at him and told him to go away and find another job.Harry had__________________________.
A.a lucky day | B.an unlucky day |
C.a busy day | D.a good day |
Put the following sentences into correct order according to the passage.
a. The man who read the electricity meter came.
b. Harry ironed his shirt.
c. Harry got blood all over his clean shirt.
d. There was a knock at the door.
e. Harry wore the shirt with blood on it.
A.a, b, c, d, e | B.b, a, d, c, e |
C.b, a, c, d, e | D.c, b, d, a, e |
Why did Harry wear the shirt with blood on it?
A.The iron had burnt a hole in his clean shirt. |
B.The only other needed ironing. |
C.He had only one shirt. |
D.He cut himself and got blood all over his shirt. |
Harry was taken to the police station because.
A.his taxi stopped outside his office and a policeman happened to be there |
B.there was blood on his shirt and he was in a taxi |
C.a man killed a woman with a knife |
D.the murderer was seen to run away in a taxi |
His boss told him to go away and find another job because.
A.he had been kept by the police |
B.there was blood on his shirt |
C.he was late for work |
D.he had killed a woman |
For many years, I was sure that my suffering was because of my size. I believed that when the weight disappeared, it would take old wounds, hurts, and rejections with it.
Many obese(overweight)people also mistakenly believe that changing our bodies will fix everything. Perhaps our worst mistake is believing that being thin means being loved, being special, and being cherished. We imagine what it will be like when we reach the long-awaited goal. We work very hard to realize this dream. Then, at last, we find ourselves there.
But we often gain back what we have lost. Even so, we continue to believe that next time it will be different. Next time, we will keep it off. Next time, being thin will finally realize its promise of happiness, and of course, love.
It took me a long while to know that there was something more for me to learn about beauty. Beauty standards are different with culture. In Somoa a woman is not considered attractive unless she weighs more than 200 pounds. More importantly, if it’s happiness that we want, why not put our energy there rather than on the size of our body? Why not look inside? Many of us try hard to change our body, but with no result. We have to find a way to live comfortably inside our body and make friends with and cherish ourselves. When we change our attitudes toward ourselves, the whole world changes.The passage tries to tell us the importance of ______.
A.body size |
B.attitudes toward life |
C.culture difference |
D.different beauty standards |
What does the underlined word “everything” (paragraph 2) mean?
A.All the problems. | B.All the bodies. |
C.The whole world. | D.The truth. |
What can be inferred about the author?
A.The author is a Samoan. |
B.The author succeeded in losing weight. |
C.The author has been troubled by her/his weight. |
D.The author probably got wounded in wars or accidents. |
According to the author, what is the common view of those who have lost some weight first and gained it back later?
A.They feel angry about the regained weight. |
B.They don’t care about the regained weight. |
C.They feel optimistic(乐观的)about future plans on weight control. |
D.They think they should give up their future plans on weight control. |
Welcome to the Ambassador Hotel. To make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities(设施) to the full.
Dining Room
Breakfast is served in the dining mom from 8 to 9:30 a.m.. Alternatively, the room staff will bring a breakfast tray to your room at any time after 7 a.m., if you place an order for it by telephone. In this case, please fill out a card and hang it outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch: 12:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Telephone:48752
Room Service
This operates 24 hours a day. Phone the Reception Desk, and your message will be passed on to the room staff.
Telephone: 48759
Telephone
To make a telephone call, dial 0 for Reception and Laundry (洗衣店), and ask to be connected. We apologize for delays in putting calls through when the staff are very busy. There are also public telephone booths(电话亭)near the Reception Desk. Early calls should be booked with Reception.
Shop
The hotel shop is open for souvenirs(纪念品), gifts and toiletries(化妆品)from 9 a.m. to 5:30p.m.
Telephone: 48687
Laundry
We have a laundry on the premises(附属)and will wash, iron and return your clothes within 24 hours. Ask the room staff to phone the laundrymen to collect them.
Telephone: 48867
Bar
The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.. The Reception staff will cash cheques and exchange money in many foreign currencies(货币).The announcement(通知) mainly gives us information about ________.
A.facilities in the hotel |
B.providing passengers all kinds of service |
C.the ways of serving |
D.carrying out the promise of the hotel |
The card in a bedroom of the hotel is to announce that ___________.
A.you should keep silent when walking past the room |
B.the passenger of the room is taking a rest |
C.the waiters mustn’t enter the room |
D.any visitors won’t bother the hotel guest |
You have arrived to stay at the hotel at 2 a.m., and want a snack(快餐), What should you do ?
A.Go to the hotel shop. |
B.Go to the hotel bar. |
C.Give a message to the waiter. |
D.Phone Reception |
One thing that British and Chinese cultures share is a love for fine tea. Today, when we think of Western tea culture, we often think of the English and beautiful china tea cups.
Afternoon tea
People believe that an English lady, Anna, first introduced the idea of afternoon tea. In the 18th and 19th centuries. the English ate only two main meals each day ,breakfast and a heavy supper that would last for several hours in the evening. As a result, people often got very hungry during the long wait between these two meals. To solve this problem, Anna came up with the clever idea of inviting some friends to join her for an afternoon meal between four and five o'clock. This meal included cakes and sandwiches. and tea was served(提供)to wash down the food. In order to make this afternoon meal important, fine china cups and plates, and silver teapots. knives, forks and spoons were used .Soon, afternoon tea parties became popular social occasions. Today, afternoon tea parties continue to play an important part in the social life in modern Britain.
Will you come for coffee?
Coffee also has an important role in British culture. People often use the words” Will you come for coffee?” to mean “Would you like to come to my home for a chat?” Normally, several different drinks such as tea, hot chocolate or a soft drink like orange Juice will be served as well as coffee. and you will be asked what you would like. However, you will not normally be offered wine at a "coffee" party.
Coffeehouses and the London Stock Exchange
In the 17th century London, coffeehouses were busy and noisy places. Businessmen and bankers went to coffeehouses to do their business, as well as to drink coffee. In fact, the London Stock Exchange(股票交易所) is believed to have started from these coffeehousesAnna introduced the idea of drinking afternoon tee because she _______.
A.enjoyed chatting with her friends at home |
B.loved fine tea and beautiful china tea cups |
C.wanted to share nice food with her friends |
D.found people felt hungry during the long wait between the two meals |
What does “social occasions” mean in Chinese?
A.集体婚礼 | B.社交活动 | C.社区表演 | D.公共场合 |
If someone says to you “Will you come for coffee?”, you _______.
A.will be offered coffee only |
B.are asked what you would like to drink |
C.will be asked to have a chat with him or her |
D.are invited to take part in an afternoon tea party |
From the last paragraph (段落) we can see _______.
A.a new business was started in coffeehouses |
B.coffeehouses are still used by businessmen and bankers |
C.businessmen and bankers went to coffeehouses just for coffee |
D.most people wouldn’t like to go to coffeehouses because of the noise |
It was the first snow of winter — an exciting day for every child but not for most teachers. Up until now, I had been able to dress myself for recess(课间休息), but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson, my kindergarten teacher, had been through first snow days many times in her long career, but I think she may still remember this one.
I managed to get into my wool snow pants. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn’t fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and matching scarf(围巾) were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots(靴子). In her calm, motherly voice she said, "By the end of winter, you will be able to put on your own boots.” I didn’t realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence.
I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected the adult to do all the work. After much wiggling and pushing, she managed to get first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.
I announced,“They’re on the wrong feet.” With the grace that only experience can bring,she struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again. Then I said,“These aren’t my boots, you know.” As she pulled the offending boots from my feet, she still managed to look both helpful and interested. Once they were off, I said,“They are my brother’s boots. My mother makes me wear them, and I hate them!” Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn’t an annoying(烦人的) little girl.She pushed and shoved, less gently this time, and the boots were returned to their proper place on my feet. With a great sigh of relief, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your gloves?’’
I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn’t want to lose them, so I put them into the toes of my boots.”According to the passage, the little girl got_______from her brother.
A.the wool snow pants and the jacket |
B.the jacket and the boots |
C.the jacket and the hat |
D.the boots and the gloves |
Why does the author say Miss Finlayson would remember that first snow day?
A.Because the little girl played a trick on her. |
B.Because it was the most exciting day of the winter. |
C.Because the little girl was in her brother’s clothes. |
D.Because the little girl wore a pretty scarf. |
We can learn from the text that Miss Finlayson_________.
A.was losing confidence in the little girl |
B.gradually lost patience with the little girl |
C.because disappointed with the little girl |
D.was getting bored with the little girl |
It can be inferred(推断) that before the little girl finally went out to enjoy the first snow of winter,the teacher had to help her put on her boots __________.
A.once | B.twice | C.three times | D.four times |