Many people take it for granted that black is a color of bad things while white should always mean something good. This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity. However, that is not always the case. Did you know that the same colour may mean differently in different places of the world?
In the English-speaking world, black is the colour of mourning. People wear black clothes at the funeral. Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed (流血). Yellow is the word for fear. If you are afraid, you are yellow. Yet none of these sayings is true outside the English-speaking world. In China and Korea white is the colour of mourning. In Russia, China and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence. In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear.
Even within the English-speaking area it is not difficult to find colour contradictions. A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station. In Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman. Both names are logical because both men wear red caps. Similarly, the British term for an American white collar worker is sometimes called a black-coated worker.
One does not have to cross an area to find colour differences. Would you rather be red-blooded? If we go back to the origin
, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest. The expression "blueblood" comes from Spain, where some noble families 
proudly said that they had "blue blood". But then why "blue" blood? Because they were fairskinned, and it is only natural that their blood vessels (血管) stood out appearing blue.Yellow is concerned with anger in .
| A．Russia | B．China | C．Britain | D．Germany |
The two meanings of the term "redcap" form a difference in .
| A．pronunciation | B．logical relationship | C． custom | D．climate |
Both Britain and America would probably agree that .
| A．a black-coated worker is employed in an office | B．black is the color of mourning |
| C．red stands for beauty and excellence | D．a redcap is a porter in a station |
The best title for this passage is
| A．The Development of the Symbolic use of Colors | B．The Meaning Concerned With Certain Colors |
| C．Colors that Carry Bad Meanings | D．The Origin of Blue Blood. |
When some Spanish called themselves “blueblood”, they actually meant .
| A．they came from a noble family | B．their faces looked blue |
| C．they had blue blood in their vessels | D．they were fairskinned |
To: "The Shoe People" <inquiries@shoepeople.com>
From: "John Trimbald" <jtconstruction@img.com>
Subject: Customer Complaint
To Whom it May Concern,
I have trusted the Shoe People to protect the feet of my employees for over ten years now. I recently purchased a few pairs of boots from your company for my crew. Though my men were initially satisfied with the boots, the soles began to fall apart on them after just twelve weeks. This was extremely surprising considering they came with a six year warranty. The boots are unsafe to wear because my men are pouring hot concrete. Please respond as soon as possible with instructions on how I can return the boots and receive a refund.
Thank you,
John Trimbald, Foreman, JT Construction
To: “John Trimbald” <jtconstruction @ img. com>
From: “The Shoe People” <inquiries @ shoepeople. com>
Dear Mr. Trimbald,
Thank you for your e-mail concerning the poor quality of our rubber soled black workboots. A representative will be by your office next week to pick up the damaged boots. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and your crew.
Along with five new pairs of workboots for your crew (we included one extra pair), we have enclosed a free year's supply of sole protector spray. In our retail stores, this spray is always recommended to buyers who work on heated floors. This should have been brought to your attention at the time of your initial order. Please excuse our oversight.
To date we have had no complaints about these workboots from customers who have used the protector spray. However, should you use the spray and find that you are still unsatisfied with the boots, please return the boots and spray for a full refund. Thank you for supporting The Shoe People. Have a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Stan Mason, PresidentThe first email is basically an email of .
| A．apology | B．sympathy | C．appreciation | D．complaint |
What’s wrong with the boots John Trimbald bought?
| A．The soles of the boots began to fall apart. |
| B．The color of the boots had shaded a lot. |
| C．The boots didn’t fit the workers well. |
| D．The patterns of the boots didn’t satisfy the workers. |
What is the underlined word “spray” used for according to the passage?
| A．To repair the damaged boots. | B．To protect the soles from heat. |
| C．To prevent the crew from danger. | D．To protect the boots from concrete. |
According to the president of The Shoe People, John Trimbald .
| A．can exchange the damaged boots with new ones at any time |
| B．must return the damaged boots to any of the retail stores |
| C．will get new pairs of boots and a free year’s supply of spray |
| D．can return the damaged boots and spray for a full refund now |
One girl decided to study judo(柔道) although she had lost her left arm in a car accident.
The girl began lessons with an old Japanese judo instructor. The girl was doing well. So she couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the instructor had taught her only one move.
“Instructor,” the girl finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”
“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the instructor replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in her teacher, the girl kept training.
Several months later, the instructor took the girl to her first tournament. Surprising herself, the girl easily won her first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, her opponent became impatient and charged. The girl skillfully used her one move to win the match. Still amazed by her success, the girl was now in the finals.This time, her opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced. For a while, the girl appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the girl might get hurt, the referee（裁判员） called a time-out. She was about to stop the match when the instructor intervened(干预).
“No,” the instructor insisted, “Let her continue.”
Soon after the match restarted, her opponent made a serious mistake: she dropped her guard. Instantly, the girl used her move to pin her opponent. The girl had won the match and the tournament. She was the champion.
On the way home, the girl and her teacher reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the girl gathered the courage to ask what was really on her mind.
“Instructor, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”
“You won for two reasons,” the teacher answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
The girl’s biggest weakness had become her biggest strength.What can we learn about the girl?
| A．She was disabled in an accident. | B．She disliked judo training. |
| C．She learnt several moves. | D．She won the first two matches hard. |
The underlined word “overmatched” probably means .
| A．impatient | B．depressed | C．defeated | D．trapped |
The girl won the championship because of .
| A．her bravery | B．her tricks | C．her skills | D．her strength |
Which of the following is probably the best title of the story?
| A．The Story of a Girl. | B．A Disabled Girl. |
| C．Defense Matters. | D．Weakness Becomes Strength. |
New arrivals
| I Love You, Sweetheart Author(s): Elm Hill Books Publisher: Elm Hill Books Format: Hardcover List Price: $9.99 Our price: $4.99 Category: Self-Help Subject: Motivational & Inspirational ISBN-10: 1404185526 Language : English Pages: 24 Overview: A great gift for your sweetheart. This book contains 24 pages full of pictures and thoughts to remember. This perfect gift also contains a CD with 3 all-time favorite love songs and a place to write your own note of romance and love. |
Eat Right for Your Metabolism Author(s): Kliment, Felicia Drury Publisher: McGraw-hill Companies Format: Paperback List Price: $16.95 Our price: $4.99 Category: Health & Fitness Subject: Diets ISBN-10: 0071460152 Language : English Pages: 312 Overview: Offer an eating plan. Help you keep your ideal weight without dieting or drugs. |
| The Girls Author(s): McLellan, Diana Publisher: LA eekly Books Format: Paperback List Price: $16.95 Our price: $3.99 Category: Acting Arts Subject: Film ISBN-10: 0312283202 Language : English Pages: 440 Overview: In The Girls, Diana Mclellan shows the complex(复杂的)and close connections that lay behind the public personae(表面形象)of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and the women who loved them. |
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas Gift Set Author(s): Tommy Nelson Publisher: Tommy Nelson Format: Boxed-set List Price: $14.99 Our price: $6.99 Category: Children Fiction Subject: Holidays & Festivals -- Christmas ISBN-10: 140039404X Language : English Pages: 104 Overview: This delightful take(诠释)on the traditional song “Twelve days of Christmas” is the funniest, furriest, freshest way to laugh through the holidays. |
If Michelle, ten, wants some books to read, she may choose the work(作品) by _____.
| A．Elm Hill Books | B．Kliment, Felicia Drury |
| C．McLellan, Diana | D．Tommy Nelson |
If John wants to build up his body, the book number he may choose is ________.
| A．1404185526 | B．0071460152 | C．0312283202 | D．140039404X |
The Girls is probably written for those who are interested in ______.
| A．fiction | B．pop songs | C．acting arts | D．health |
Which will save the most money for you?
| A．I Love You, Sweetheart |
| B．Eat Right for Your Metabolism |
| C．The Girls |
| D．The Twelve Dogs of Christmas Gift Set |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The Girls is thicker than The Twelve Dogs of Christmas Gift Set. |
| B．There are only some beautiful pictures in I Love You, Sweetheart. |
| C．Eat Right for Your Metabolism tells us the connection between people. |
| D．Not only I Love You, Sweetheart but also The Girls is paperback. |
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.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. |
The underlined word “decline” in the first paragraph most probably means _____.
| A．accept | B．receive | C．refuse | D．follow |
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. |
In America, invitations to a wedding are often sent ________.
| A．by mail | B．by fax | C．by e-mail | D．over the telephone |
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. |
A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was raining hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village.
On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him.
The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked: “Are these yours?” “Yes, sir.” the farmer answered timidly(胆怯地)。”Have you killed the man?” “No, no, sir.” the farmer said in a hurry.” When did you see the dead man?” ”About seven last evening.” “Did you see who killed the man?” “No, Sir.” The officer brought out a knife and asked, “Have you seen it yet?” ”No, Sir.’ The officer became angry and told the policemen to beat him up and send him into prison.
That evening the officer went on trying .Pointing to the knife, he asked again,” Have you seen it yet?” ”Yes, Sir.” The officer was happy and asked,” When and where?” “I saw it here this afternoon, sir.”The farmer decided to sell the vegetables to .
| A．buy some food for his family |
| B．buy some medicine for his wife |
| C．go to see a doctor |
| D．go to the cinema |
The farmer didn’t sell out his vegetables until the evening because .
| A．they were too bad |
| B．they were very expensive |
| C．it rained hard that morning |
| D．few people liked to go out on such a bad day |
As , the farmer decided to help the person to stand up.
| A．he wanted to get some money from him. |
| B．the person was one of his friends |
| C．he thought the person would thank him. |
| D．he thought the person had drunk too much |
The farmer ran away quickly because .
| A．the policemen were coming towards him. |
| B．his wife was waiting for him at home |
| C．he was afraid to see a dead man. |
| D．it was so late that he couldn’t stay there any longer. |
The officer tried the farmer to .
A know who had killed the man.
B. know if he had seen the dead man
C .ask when he saw the dead man
D .ask if he had seen the knife
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