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Good evening and welcome to World Views. Earlier in the day, we spoke to three different people about family traditions. Here’s what they said.
① Christmas presents
One of our traditions is to do with Christmas presents. Most people open their presents in the morning, but we open ours in the late afternoon after Christmas lunch. It’s really nice to do so because opening the presents in the morning makes the rest of the day, you know, it’s boring. Well, that’s what we think.
② Birthday cakes
One tradition we have is to do with birthdays, all our birthday cakes have to be carrot cakes. My dad has to make the cake. He even has to make the cake for his own birthday! Perhaps it’s because my mum doesn’t like other tastes cakes. And the funny thing is, we never have carrot cakes at any other time-only birthdays.
③ Special day
We had a tradition in our family for the last day of the summer holidays. The day before we had to go back to school, mum and dad would always take us out for the day. In the morning, we’d get up early and go for a long walk. Next, we’d go for lunch in our favorite restaurant. Then, to the cinema to see a film. Finally, home, where we’d play games. It made going back to school so much better.
1.In the first family, when do they open the Christmas presents?
A. In the morning B. In the afternoon
C. In the evening D. At night
2.In the second family, who makes the carrot cakes for everyone’s birthday?
A. Dad B. Mum C. Kids D. Grandmother
3.Which day is a special day for the third family?
A. Christmas Day
B. Dad’s birthday
C. The last day of the summer holiday
D. The first day of the summer holiday
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“I sometimes get up at three or four in the morning to surf the Internet.”
“ I checked my e-mail almost forty times a day.”
“I seldom spend less than three hours each time on the net.”
“I spend more time in chat rooms than with my ‘real-life’ friends.”
Do you know any people like these? They are part of a new addiction* called Internet addiction. According to experts, Internet addicts* spend at least thirty hours online every week. They lose control of the time they spend on the Internet.
For example, one college student was missing for several days. His friends were worried and looked for him everywhere but couldn’t find him. They called the police. The police found the student in the computer lab: he was surfing the Internet---for seven days straight.
A study shows that about seven to ten percent of Internet users become addicted. The teenagers spend more time on the Internet than with friends and family. That’s why some experts worry most about young people.
Is “surfing the Internet” a hobby or an addiction for you? You may have a problem if you have one of the following symptoms*.
★ You go out with your friends less and less.
★ You’ve decided to spend a short time online, but then you spend several hours.
★ You do not go to important family events or you do not do school projects because you like to spend hours on the Internet.
What is the situation? Some experts suggest that people set strict limits on their time for internet use. You have to learn to control it, or the Internet would control you.
1.Internet addicts at least spend ________ hours online every week.
A. twenty B. thirty C. forty D. fifty
2.Some experts worry most about young people because__________.
A. they spend too much time on the Internet.
B. they spend too much time with their friends
C. they get up too early to surf the Internet
D. they spend too much money shopping online.
3.Where may you find this passage?
A. In a guidebook B. In a magazine
C. In a movie poster D. In a storybook
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Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one . One day, Becky ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with excitement.
I followed her to the bush and found a wolf! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up suddenly! I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.” Becky said. Then he became friendly. It was unbelievable!
I rushed to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, but Becky loved him. Besides, he was kind to Becky. So we called the vet* finally.
Becky named the wolf Ralph and she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he disappeared but came back several days later.
On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s sadness. After Becky left school, Ralph lay by the side o f the road and waited. When Becky returned, he got happy again. This continued throughout Becky’s school years.
Twelve years passed.
One day we heard that a wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were worried about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound*. Becky held his head kindly and comforted him. We hoped he could come through. However, he died.
Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush—two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s child! Before he died, Ralph brought his child to us! He knew he would be safe here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph, I was moved.
“Don’t be afraid, little…little Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”
1.Becky was ________ years old when she met Ralph.
A. three B. nine C. twelve D. fifteen
2.What does the underlined sentence “my mouth felt dry” mean in this passage?
A. The writer felt happy.
B. The writer felt thirsty.
C. The writer felt nervous
D. The writer felt sad.
3.Ralph brought his child to Becky because______.
A. he thought Becky needed a new pet
B. he thought Becky would look after his child well.
C. his child was hurt and had to be cared at once.
D. he was hurt badly and had to run away at once.
4.What’s the best title for the passage?
A. The best pet for children B. A close friendship
C. A kind girl called Becky D. An interesting wolf
