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You want to know about my staying in America, right? Well, to tell you the truth, it is really an eye-opening experience study here.
In China, I had English classes five times a week since fifth grade. However, I didn’t know how different textbook English could be from everyday English until I came to Hotchkiss School, Connecticut.
When I first studied English, I was told to say, “I am fine.” when people say “How are you?” But in the US, I found that people say, “I am good.” or “I’m tired.”
One day, someone greeted me with “What’s up?” It made me confused. I thought for a moment and then smiled because I didn’t know what to say.
Since then, I have discovered more and more differences between Chinese and US cultures.
To my surprise, US girls spend a lot of time in the burning sun to get a tan. However, in China, girls try every possible way to get their skin paler, or “whiter.” I also surprised by how hard-working US students are. In China, schoolwork is almost everything, so we study hard and that’s it. But here, a “good” student gets good grades, does a lot for the public and plays sports or music.
The kids here are so talented, I am starting to be sorry that I gave up playing the piano at an early age and that I have never thought about sports.
1. What does the word “tan” in the sixth paragraph mean in Chinese?
A. 晒黑 B. 晒白 C. 能量 D. 保护
2. A good US student spends his/her time ________.
A. only in doing homework
B. only on sports
C. only on music
D. on studies, sports or music and public work
3. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. The writer is now in US.
B. American girls love to have white skin.
C. American girls love to have brown skin.
D.US students are talented and hard-working.
4. Which is the best title for the passage?
A. My Own Travel in the US
B. My Studying in the US
C. My Opinion about the US
D. My Studying in China
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Are you interested in country music? I like it very much! It will take me away for a while after I am tired .The guitars and songs will take me to mountains and fields.
Country music usually talks of everyday life and feelings. It’s the spirit of America, easy to understand, slow and simple.
Country music developed in the Southern United States. It was the folk music of American countryside. Many of songs tell about the lives of famers .They talk about love, crops or death.
The life of the countryside can be hard, so the words in country music are often sad. At first, people played the music only at family parties. But it became more popular later. In the 1920s, people played country songs on the radio, and they made them into records.
When people in the countryside moved to towns and cities to look for work, they took their music with them. Country music continued to change and became popular across America.
John Denver was one of America’s most famous country singers in the 1970s.His song “Take Me home, Country Roads” is well-known and people still play it today.
1.Country music is usually about _______.
A. everyday life and feelings
B. farmers’ feelings
C. the lives of workers
D. the lives of farmers
2. People began to make country song records _______.
A. in the 1920s B. in 1920
C. in the 1970s D. in 1970
3. Why did Country music become popular in America?
A. Because city people liked the music.
B. Because farmers moved to cities with their music and it continued to change. C. Because country music talked about city people’s lives.
D. Because country music developed in the Southern Africa
4. Who is famous for the song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”?
A. A farmer in the countryside.
B.A person who moved to towns
C. John Denver.
D. John Denver’s brother
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Even a child knows that nodding(点头) the head means “Yes”. But some people will probably be puzzled when they first come to India. When they talk to an Indian, he often shakes his head. They might think that the Indian does not like what he said, but on the contrary he is expressing agreement.
The Indians have a habit of shaking their heads slightly when they talk to somebody. It doesn’t mean “No”, but “Yes”.
If a person doesn’t know this, it might cause misunderstanding.
At one time a foreigner in India told his driver who was an Indian to take him to his office. The driver shook his head. The foreigner repeated his request and the driver shook his head again. At last, the foreigner shouted angrily, “Drive me to my office at once!” The driver said in a low voice, “Yes, sir,” smiling and shaking his head again at the same time.
1. According to the habit of India, if someone agrees with you, he will _______.
A. nod his head
B. shake his head
C. neither nods his head nor shakes his head
D. either nod his head or shake his head
2. Why did the Indian driver shake his head when the foreigner asked him to drive him to his office? Because _______.
A. the Indian driver has something important to do
B. the foreigner promised to give him only a little money
C. The driver felt uncomfortable at that time
D. In India shaking the head means agreement
3. Why did the foreigner become angry? Because _______.
A. the Indian driver didn’t want to send him to his office
B. He misunderstood the meaning of shaking the head in India
C. he asked the driver to send him to his office, but the India driver didn’t say any words
D. the Indian driver asked him for a lot of money
4. The phrase “on the contrary” means _______.
A. just the opposite
B. clear difference between two things
C. doing what you want to do
D. on the other hand
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Most people want to be happy, but few know how to find happiness. Money and success alone do not bring lasting（永恒的、永久的） happiness. Aristotle (亚里士多德), a Greek thinker, said, “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” In other words, we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.
The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future —for example, getting into college or getting a good job —that we fail to enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives.
Another secret to living a happy life is to be active, and have hobbies where you forget your problems and time. Many people experience this dancing, or playing a sport, such as swimming. You can forget about your problems, and only think about the activity. Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others. If you want to feel happier, do good things for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to buy food for an elderly person, or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes.
1. The best title（标题）of the passage is ________.
A. Money Makes You Happy
B. The Secrets of Happiness
C. Ideas for Helping Other People to Be Happy
D. Good Friends Make You Happy
2. The second paragraph tells us that ________.
A. the more friends you have, the happier you will be
B. we shouldn’t think about our future
C. happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life.
D. some people fail to live a happy life
3. The passage gives us ________ pieces of advice on happiness.
A. one B. two C. three D. four
4. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?
A. Reading a good book.
B. Traveling to a foreign country.
C. Playing a sport.
D. Spending time with close friends.
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King’s College Summer School
King’s College Summer School is an annual (每年的) training program for high school students at all levels who want to improve their English. Courses（课程） are given by the teachers of King’s College and other colleges in New York. Trips to museums and culture centers are also organized. This year’s summer school will be from July 25 to August 15. More information is follows:
| Application (申请) date *Students in New York should send their applications before July 18, 2007. *Students of other cities should send their applications before July 16, 2007. *Foreign students should send their applications before July 10, 2007. | Courses *English Language * Spoken English: 22 hours * Reading and Writing: 10 hours *American History: 16 hours *American Culture: 16 hours |
| Steps *A letter of self-introduction *A letter of recommendation(推荐) *The letters should be written in English with all the necessary information. | Cost *Daily lessons: $200 *Sports and activities: $100 *Travels: $200 *Hotel service: $400 *You may choose to live with your friends or relatives in the same city. |
| Please write to: Thompson, Sanders 1026 King’s Street New York, NY 10016, USA E-mail: KC-Summer-School@ yahoo.com |
1.You can most probably read the text in ___________.
A. a newspaper B. a travel guide C. a textbook D. a telephone book
2. Which of the following is true about King’s College Summer School?
A. Only top students can take part in the program.
B. King’s College Summer School is run every other year.
C. Visits to museums and culture centers are part of the program.
D. Only the teachers of King’s College give courses.
3. If you are to live with your relatives in New York, you will have to pay the school_______.
A. $200 B. $400 C. $500 D. $900
4. What information can you get from the text?
A. The program will last two months.
B. You can write to Thompson only in English.
C. As a Chinese student, you can send your application on July 14, 2007.
D. You can get in touch with the school by e-mail or by telephone.
