-
Americans often plan social gatherings（社交聚会）on short notice, so don’t be surprised if you get invited to someone’s home or to see a movie or baseball game without much warning. If the time is convenient (方便) for you, surely accept their invitation. But if you’re busy, don’t be afraid to decline the invitation, perhaps suggesting a time that would be better. Your host won’t be shamed.
Invitations are usually sent in person or over the telephone. The main exception(例外) is for some formal occasions, in which case a written invitation will be mailed. You would normally receive a written invitation to a wedding(婚礼).
For a casual(不正式的)dinner invitation, don’t arrive more than 5 minutes early, because your host may still be preparing for your visit. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is considered rude if very few people were invited. If many people were invited, it’s OK to arrive a little late, even as much as half an hour late. For example, it’s OK to arrive late for a party, for a potluck (家常便饭) dinner or for a social gathering inviting a large group of people.
If you’re invited for dinner, it’s proper to bring the host a bottle of wine, a gift basket of fruit, a box of candy (糖果), or a bouquet(束)of flowers. Don’t bring roses, as men often give roses to women on a date (约会).
If you wish to thank the host for his or her hospitality (好客), it’s right to call or send a brief (简单的) written thank-you note the next day.
1.The passage is to tell us ________.
A．how to accept Americans’ invitations.
B．something about American social visits.
C．something about American business visits.
D．how to make a living in America.
2.The underlined word “decline” in the first paragraph most probably means _____.
A．accept B．receive C．refuse D．follow
3.If an American only invites you to his home for an informal supper at 7:30p.m., you’d better get to his house at ________.
A．7:15p.m. B．7:35p.m. C．7:45p.m. D．7:55p.m.
4.In America, invitations to a wedding are often sent ________.
A．by mail B．by fax C．by e-mail D．over the telephone
5.According to the passage, in American ________.
A．if you’re invited to a family as a guest, you can stay as long as you please.
B．if you’re invited for a party, you must always be on time.
C．if you’re invited for dinner, you’d better bring some presents.
D．you must make a call to show your thanks after you get home from the dinner.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
-
One morning in Philadelphia, the sun shone bright through all the thick jungles and the tall churches. John, 6, wearing the worn-out clothes, walked from a far place, his dark small hands holding a piece of stolen bread.
John stopped for a moment at the entrance to the church and then left tightly holding the bread,
He was an orphan(孤儿), whose parents were killed in World War II leaving him alone in the orphanage for five years, Like many children in the house, he had a lot of free time. Mostly no one took care of them, so they had to learn how to steal those they wanted.
John believed God to be real, so every Sunday morning in any case he would go to the church to have a look and listen to those people singing inside or reading the Bible. He felt only at this moment he was the child of God and so close to God. But he couldn’t enter because his clothes were so dirty. John himself knew it.
John was quietly calculating the times. This was his 45th Sunday at the entrance to the church. He stood on tiptoe（踮着脚尖） for a while and walked away.
As time passed, the pastor(牧师) noticed John and learned from others that he was the small boy who liked stealing things in the orphanages.
On the 46th Sunday, the sun was shining and John came still holding a piece of bread with his dark small hands. When he just stood there, the pastor came out. He felt like running away, but he was carried by the pastor's friendly smile.
The pastor walked up to his side, clearly seeing John's small hands shaking.
"Are you John?"
John didn't answer, but looked at the pastor and nodded.
"Do you believe in God?" the pastor patted John on his head with dust.
"Yes, I do!" This time John told him loudly.
"So you believe in yourself?"
John looked at the pastor, without a word.
The pastor went on saying, "At the first sight of you, I find you're different from other kids because you have a good heart."
His face turning red, John said nervously, "In fact, I'm a thief." With that, he lowered his head.
The pastor didn't speak, but held John's dark small hands, slowly opened them and put them against his wrinkled face.
"Ah" Just at the same time, John shouted and was about to take out his dark small hands. Yet the pastor tightly held his small hands and spread them out in the sun.
"Do you see, John?"
"What?"
"You're cupping the sunshine in your hands."
John blankly looked at his hands: when did they become so beautiful?
"In God's eyes, all children are the same. When they are willing to spread out their hands to greet the sun, the sun will naturally shine on them. And you have two things more than they do. First is courage and the second is kindness." With that, the pastor led him into the church. It was the first time that John went into this sacred place, and at this moment he didn't feel inferior, but the unspeakable warmth.
On that morning greeting the sunshine, John found himself again, along with the confidence, satisfaction, happiness, dreams he had never had.
Twenty years have passed. Now the boy who ever tightly held the bread with his dirt hands has been the most famous cook in Philadelphia and made many popular dishes.
Every Sunday morning, he would personally send the bread he baked to the orphanage. Those children who greeted him with cheers were used to consciously spreading their palms before they got the bread.
Because they all knew when we are willing to spread out our hands to greet the sunshine, the sun will naturally shine on us.
1.The method the writer uses to develop Paragraph is ______________
A．presenting contrasts (对比) B．showing causes （原因）
C．offering analyses D．providing explanations
2.Why didn't John go inside whenever he went to the church?
A．He was frightened to be recognized by the pastor
B．He was not welcomed by those singing in the church.
C．He was sorry for his dirty clothes and identity as a thief.
D．He was left alone in the orphanage and nobody cared for him.
3.Which of the following questions did John reply certainly?
A．“Are you John?" B．"Do you see, John?"
C．"So you believe in yourself?" D．"Do you believe in God?"
4.Which of the following can best describe the pastor's great effect on John?
A．John became a famous cook.
B．John admitted his bad behavior. (行为)
C．John believed God to be real
D．John spread warmth to other orphans.
5.According to the passage, the sunshine cupped in hands can bring ________
A．cheers and confidence B．dreams and imagination
C．courage and kindness D．forgiveness and satisfaction
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
-
Honey(蜂蜜)from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest(巢)and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper一a little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax (蜂蜡) in the beehives (蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees’ nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.
1.Why is it difficult to find a wild bees' nest?
A．It's small in size. B．It's hard to recognize.
C．It's covered with wax. D．It's hidden in trees.
2.What do the words "the follower" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A．A bee. B．A bird. C．A beekeeper. D．A honey seeker.
3.The honey guide is special in the way____________。
A．it gets its food B．it goes to church
C．it sings in the forest D．it reaches into bees' nests
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A．Wild Bees B．Wax and Honey
C．Honey-Lover's Helper D．Beekeeping in Africa
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
-
London, Dec.17 (Xinhua) “Drivers on London Underground trains have started reading out sayings from great thinkers like Mahatma Gandhi , Frindrich Engels, and Albert Einstein in a bid to cheer up passengers ,” officials said. As well as the usual announcements urging passengers to “mind the steps” and warning of delays, the sayings such as “ an ounce ( 盎司) of action is worth a ton of theory” have taken the place of commercial ad in the underground carriages .
New York, Oct.8 (Xinhua) Once as a famous actor, now the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to abandon textbooks in favor of digital ones. He plans to launch this program in August next year when California’s high-school pupils will have access to online math and science text. But some teachers wonder whether his idea of getting rid of textbooks might end up costing more not less, with digital textbook going for $300.
Amsterdam, Nov.30 (Xinhua) A few cups of coffee a day may not only help to put off the disease—dementia(痴呆) but also can treat it, according to Dr. Arendash, who led the research. After giving mice with memory damage water containing caffeine, he found the mice developed better memories and quick thinking. The reason is that caffeine is a safe drug for most people. It easily enters the brain and directly affects the disease process. He suggested people should drink five eight–ounce cups of ordinary coffee, two cups of strong ‘coffee shop’ coffee, 14 cups of tea, or 20 cola drinks to get the same amount of 500 milligrams of caffeine.
1.What’s the purpose of putting up sayings on the underground carriages in London?
A．to help passengers to kill time.
B．to encourage passengers to learn.
C．to lift the spirits of passengers.
D．to make money as a commercial ad.
2.What can we conclude from the second news?
A．digital textbooks will replace traditional textbooks.
B．online math is already available to high-school pupils .
C．digital textbooks are convenient to carry anywhere.
D．Not all the teachers support their governor’s idea.
3.Which of the following statements is true from the third news?
A．The more coffee you drink, the less chance there will be for dementia.
B．Caffeine can make mice become more and more intelligent and energetic.
C．Caffeine can affect the process of the disease—dementia and treat it.
D．Caffeine is a safe drug for all the people for everyday use so enjoy it.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析