Habits in Russia
There is an old saying that says when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I learned the meaning of this when I stayed in Russia as a visiting scholar(学者).
One day I invited some of my Chinese friends to a famous local restaurant in Moscow. My guests and I were excited about our meeting. We had a lively talk until the waiter told me that we were too loud. We lowered(降低)our voices.(38) The waiter came over to us two more times with the same message.
How bad an impression(印象)we must have left on the local people! In China,it's natural and important for a host(主人)to make a lively atmosphere(气氛). However, in Russia and Western countries, having a meal in a public place means you must keep your voice low. You need to be polite to others.
I felt bad about this.(39)
(40) My Russian friend Andrey always looks around and thinks for a while before leaving home. I asked him why he did this. "Aha," Andrey said, "In Russia, people always spend about a minute going over things and plans in their minds before leaving home.(41) "
Finding the differences between cultures is so much fun. I like to keep my eyes and mind open.
A. |
But this didn't last long. |
B. |
Russians have their own special habits, too. |
C. |
Russian people are usually careful and polite. |
D. |
So they won't leave anything necessary behind. |
E. |
Luckily, people usually do not pay much attention to that in Russia. |
F. Even though we tried our best, it's very difficult to fight against habits.
"Dear Grandpa Guo, we are losing our childhoods! Please help us!"
Guo Chuanjie, a famous scientist, received a letter from a Beijing primary school student. The student said that many Chinese kids have to take extra classes on weekends in order to enter key middle schools. The kid hoped more people would hear his voice with Guo’s help.
Guo is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC,中国人民政治 协商会议). Last month the CPPCC members met in Beijing. They are from all walks of life - scientists, businesspeople, doctors, artists and athletes. They give proposals (提案) on the country’s important issues(问题) to make our country better. For the Beijing student’s letter, Guo read it in front of Yuan Guiren, China’s Minister of Education (教育部部长), during a CPPCC meeting.
According to Xinhua, there were 5,762 proposals in all. Many of the proposals were about problems like housing prices, heavy traffic and food safety, which were related to people’s daily lives. Some proposals were about teenagers. For example, singer Han Hong suggested that the government should deal with people who traffic(拐卖) children.
As usual, proposals will be given to relative departments (相关部门) after the meetings. For example, Guo’s proposal was handed to the Ministry of Education. The departments will consider the proposals carefully and see if they can be carried out in the future. The primary school student thought ____________ with Guo’s help.
A.children were losing their childhoods |
B.he didn’t have to take extra classes |
C.more people would hear his voice |
D.he could enter key middle school |
Many of the proposals were about problems except ____________ according to the passage.
A.housing prices | B.heavy traffic | C.food safety | D.scientific research |
After the CPPCC meetings, Guo’s proposal ____________.
A.was given to other members of the meeting | |
B.was sent to the primary school student | |
C.was handed to the Ministry of Education | D.was returned to himself |
Which of the following sentences is NOT TURE?
A.A primary school student wrote a letter to a famous scientist, Guo Chuanjie. |
B.Guo Chuanjie went to Beijing for the CPPCC meetings last month. |
C.Guo Chuanjie read the student’s letter during a meeting. |
D.Guo Chuanjie wrote a letter to the Ministry of Education. |
Sunny English Club For students 16:00-18:00 every Saturday 200 Yuan a month 9 Zhou Yu Street Tel:3785290 Foreign teachers, English songs and film and more! |
Ocean Museum 9:00-17:00 Form Thursday to Sunday Ticket:50Yuan 132 Xue Yuan Street Tel:5439871 Show you a full picture of sea lives |
Health Centre 9:00-17:30 16 Yong Le Street Tel:3801451 Free examinations for those over 70 Give you good advice to keep healthy |
Sunny English Club is for ____________
A.nurses | B.policemen | C.businessmen | D.students |
One can get free examinations in Health Centre if he is ____________.
A.9 | B.17 | C.67 | D.73 |
If you are interested in the life offish, you should go to ____________.
A.Health Centre | B.Ocean Museum | C.Sunny English Club | D.16 Yong Le Street |
Jack is an English student. He always stays at home for his holidays. But last winter he thought, “I have never left the country. All my friends have been to Germany. They like it very much. So this year I’m going there for my holiday.”
First he went to Berlin and stayed in a small hotel for a few days. One morning he went out for a walk. In his country people drive on the left, but in Germany they drive on the right. Jack forgot about this, and while he came to a busy street, a bike knocked him down.
Jack lay on the ground for a few seconds and then he sat up and said, “Where am I?” An old man was selling maps at the side of the street. He quickly came to Jack and said, “Maps of the city, Sir? “Jack is a(n) _____________.
A.German student | B.American student |
C.English student | D.French student |
Jack went to Germany ____.
A.to visit his friends | B.to see his parents |
C.to drive a car | D.to spend his holidays |
In Germany people drive ____.
A.on the right | B.on the left | C.in the middle | D.in the air |
What happened to Jack one morning?
A.He lost his way. | B.A bike knocked him down. |
C.His car broke down. | D.He didn’t find his hotel. |
When Jack said “Where am I ? “ What did the old man think?
A.He thought Jack was hurt. |
B.He thought Jack wanted to go home. |
C.He thought Jack wanted something to eat. |
D.He thought Jack wanted a map. |
Accident Report Form |
|
Accident |
A car hit a tree. Four people were in the car. |
Weather condition |
There was a heavy rain. |
Cause |
The driver named Li Jun drank too much. |
Date of call |
March 20th, 2008 |
Time of call |
8:30 p.m. |
Name of caller |
A man called Zhang Wei. (He was taking a walk there at that time.) |
Place |
Zhongshan Road, Nanjing |
Conditions of victims (受害者) |
Mr. Green hurt his head. Mrs. Green hurt her left leg. Their daughter felt frightened. Their dog died. |
Action |
Policemen arrived at 8:40 p.m. and sent the victims to Gulou Hospital at 8:45 p.m. |
What time did Zhang Wei call the police?
A.At 8:30 a. m. | B.At 8:30 p. m. | C.At 8:40 p. m. | D.At 8:45 p. m. |
How many people were there in the cars?
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
Whose left leg was hurt?
A.Mrs. Green’s. | B.Their daughter’s. | C.Mr. Green’s. | D.Their dog’s. |
What was the weather like that day?
A.It was sunny. | B.It was snowy. | C.It was cloudy. | D.It was rainy. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The car hit a wall. |
B.The accident happened on Zhongshan Road in Beijing. |
C.The driver drank too much. |
D.The policemen arrived half an hour later and sent the victims to the hospital. |
What’s your favorite weather? Do you like sunny or rainy days? Many people like sunny days a lot. They don’t like rain. They think rain makes them feel sad. During a long vacation,they like going to the beach to enjoy the sunshine(阳光). Sunshine makes them feel very good and happy.
I like sunshine very much,but I also enjoy rain. I enjoy the sound (声音)of rain. It makes me feel quiet. On rainy days,I like listening to music and reading books,or just looking athe rain and daydreaming.(做白日梦) When you daydream,you don’t think about other things. I think it’s a good way to relaxwhen it rains.
Sunshine can make one run around and rain can make one quiet, so I hope you can feel happy ,rain or shine.Many people don’t like rain because it makes them feel __________.
A. happy B.sad Ctired D.relaxingThe writer enjoys the sound of _______.
A.rain | B.snow | C.wind | D.cloud |
We don’t think about other things when we _______.
A.sing B. dance C.daydream DshopSunshine can make people ________.
A.quiet | B.run around | C.relaxed | D.sad |
The writer thinks daydreaming is a good way torelax when it ______.
A.snows | B.shines | C.rains | D.winds |