Every English learner hopes to find a patient native speaker who will politely correct mistakes and teach him some useful new vocabulary. But native speakers can be hard to find. If you’re having trouble communicating in English, American situation comedies are one good way to help.
They can not only give you a lot of information about American culture, but also offer some useful daily expressions. Watching them will help you enlarge your vocabulary and teach you correct language usage in different situations. Best of all, situation comedies are a fun way to learn.
The Apprentice
The American reality (现实) TV show is hosted by the famous businessman Donald Trump. It’s based on the idea of the final job interview for the final job. The show picks 16 people to compete for a job with Trump’s business. Those who fail their weekly tasks have to meet with Trump. They have to explain why they should not be fired (解雇).
The Apprentice is useful for English students who want to learn how to make up a persuasive (令人信服的) argument. For example, rather than say “I think I did a good job”, one may also learn to throw off the possibility of uncertainty by saying, “I did a good job.”
Desperate Housewives (DH)
Desperate Housewives is set in an invented American town, Wisteria Lane. It follows a group of middle-aged women as they go through their daily family lives. But in fact, those women live a life of lies, secrets, criminal (犯罪的) acts, and mystery.
This program is good at expressing the funny life of American neighbors. And, it’s the perfect comedy series for foreign learners wanting to see how to hold a relaxed daily conversation.
Another reason for watching DH is to learn some expressions American families use that are not in your English language textbooks. For example, the mothers often use words such as “sport” and “you guys” to speak about their kids. According to the passage, The Apprentice and DH are introduced because _____.
| A．they are now the most popular programs |
| B．they are helpful in English learning |
| C．they are advertised for English beginners |
| D．they are enjoyed by most young people |
Through watching the two American comedy series, English learners can do the following EXCEPT _____.
| A．communicate with native speakers |
| B．know about American culture |
| C．pick up English daily expressions |
| D．learn more English words |
In the author’s opinion, learning English through TV series is _____.
| A．common | B．difficult | C．enjoyable | D．possible |
We can learn from the passage that The Apprentice _____.
| A．tells a story of school life | B．is about real life |
| C．has 15 actors | D．is about some businessmen |
Which of the following statements about DH can we get from the introduction?
| A．The story happens in a village of America. |
| B．The housewives join in the same job interview. |
| C．The women in the American town lead a life full of sadness. |
| D．It does well in describing an interesting neighborhood in America. |
For well over a thousand years, smallpox was a disease that everyone feared. The disease killed much of the native population in South America when the Spanish arrived there in the early sixteenth century. By the end of the eighteenth century, smallpox was responsible for about one in ten deaths around the world. Those who survived the disease were left with ugly scars on their skin.
It had long been well known among farmers that people who worked with cows seldom caught smallpox; instead, they often caught a similar but much milder disease called cowpox (牛痘) . A British doctor called Jenner was extremely interested in this, and so he studied cowpox. He believed that, by vaccinating (给接种疫苗) people with the disease, he could protect them against the much worse disease smallpox. In 1796, he vaccinated a boy with cowpox and, two months later, with smallpox. The boy did not get smallpox. In the next two years, Jenner vaccinated several children in the same way, and none of them got the disease．
News of the success of Jenner’s work soon spread. Vaccination soon became a common method to protect people against other diseases caused by virus, such as rabies (狂犬病), and vaccines were sent across the world to the United States and India.
It took nearly two centuries to achieve Jenner’s dream of getting free of smallpox from the whole world. In 1967, the world Health Organization (WHO) started a great vaccination program, and the last known case of smallpox was recorded in Somalia in 1977. The story of vaccinations does not end there, however. There are many other diseases that kill more and more people every year. Besides, many new diseases are being discovered. The challenge for medical researchers will, therefore, probably continue for several more centuriesSmallpox was so serious that _________________ by the end of l8th century
| A．its death rate was up to ten percent |
| B．those who caught it were certain to die |
| C．one in ten people in the world died of smallpox |
| D．one in ten deaths in the world was caused by smallpox |
Edward Jenner discovered that vaccination with cowpox could ____________.
| A．make smallpox much milder |
| B．stop people from getting smallpox |
| C．protect people against any disease |
| D．prevent people’s scars after smallpox |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
| A．The first experiment with cowpox was made by a British doctor. |
| B．After 1977 smallpox disappeared around the world according to WHO. |
| C．Vaccination had existed among ordinary farmers before being discovered. |
| D．Vaccination can be used to protect people in the world against not only smallpox. |
The author of the passage thinks that _________________.
| A．vaccinations bring many new problems |
| B．vaccinations end the spread of diseases |
| C．there is a long way to go to fight against diseases |
| D．there is a long way to go to discover new diseases |
The audience starts to scream and young people all over Britain turn on their TVs. Yes, it’s Top of the pops!
Top of the pops is an amazing 45-year-old programme. Pop stars from all over the world appear on this successful TV prograrmme. After about 2340 shows, it’s still the most popular pop music show in Britain．So what’s the secret?
“We get lots of bands to perform live in the studio,” says producer Chris Cowey. “That just doesn’t happen on other shows”
Chris starts the preparations for the programme over a week before it goes out．His first job is to decide which bands to have on the show. When the chart of the top twenty songs is produced on Sunday, Chris can start to book the bands
Monday starts with Chris meeting his sound, lighting and camera workers. They listen to each song and plan the show.
Tuesday is paperwork day. There are bookings to make sure of, letters to answer and lots of phone calls to make. The show is on Thursday. Bands arrive at the studio from 10 o’clock in the morning and start practicing. Tonight’s presenter, Jo Whiley, practises too
First the bands go to make up. Judy and Issy are the make-up artists. “We see the stars with no make-up on, looking terrible,” says Issy. Then the bands go to the costume department where Marianne dresses the stars.
Back in the studio things are happening. The audience is practising their dance moves! It takes over two hours to record the whole programme, then Chris edits it all night long. The final version is exactly 29 minutes longWhat make (s) Top of the Pops the most popular in Britain?
| A．The famous singers of the bands. |
| B．The live performances in the studio. |
| C．The large numbers of pop fans in Britain. |
| D．The jobs carefully done by the workers of the TV station. |
When the bands receive the invitations to the performance, ___________________.
| A．they must decide what songs they will perform |
| B．they have no idea what songs they will perform |
| C．they don’t have to decide what songs they will perform |
| D．the songs that will be performed haven’t been decided on |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The programme time on TV is exactly controlled. |
| B．All the stars must make up before their performance. |
| C．The producer plays the main role in planning the programme. |
| D．There are no audience to join in the performance at the TV station |
How is the music programme made at the TV station?
Which is the proper title for the passage?
| A．A Stage for Pop Stars |
| B．Go Backstage of Top of the Pops |
| C．Great Success Comes from Hard Work |
| D．The Most Popular Is the Most Successful |
I had to knock on the taxi to get his attention. Finally, the driver, a man about 60, looked up from behind the wheel and apologized, “I’m sorry, but I was reading a letter.” He sounded as if he had a cold or a cough.
Since I was in no hurry, I told him to finish his letter. He shook his head, explaining that he had already read it several times and almost knew it by heart. Curious, I asked whether it was from a child or maybe a grandchild. “This isn’t family,” he replied. “Though he might just as well have been a regular member of the family, Old Ed and I grew up together.”
They were always friends. But since he moved away from the neighborhood 30 years ago, it’d generally just been postcards at Christmas time between them. A couple of weeks ago, Ed died. “I should have kept in touch.” He repeated this, more to himself than to me. To comfort him, I said sometimes we just didn’t seem to find the time. “But we used to find the time,” he said. “Take a look.” He handed the letter over to me.
The first sentence “I’ve been meaning to write for some time, but I’ve always delayed it.” reminded me of myself. It went on to say that he often thought about the good times they had had together. When I read the part where it said “Your friendship really means a lot to me, more than I can say because I’m not good at saying things like that”, I found myself nodding in agreement.
We had gone several kilometers and were almost at my hotel, so I read the last paragraph: “So I thought you’d like to know that I was thinking of you.” And it was ended with “Your Old Friend, Tom.”
“I thought your friend’s name was Ed,” I said.
“I’m Tom,” he explained. “It’s a letter I wrote to Ed before I knew he’d died. I never put it in the mailbox. I guess I should have written it sooner.” His face was pale as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
When I got to my hotel room I didn’t unpack right away. I had to write a letter and post it. From Paragraph 4, we learn that the author _______.
| A．often fails to write to his friends |
| B．doesn’t want to write to his friends |
| C．had many great moments with his friends |
| D．was good at expressing his feelings to friends |
Who wrote the letter?
| A．Old Ed | B．The driver’s grandchild |
| C．The author | D．Tom |
It can be inferred from the passage that the driver regretted_____.
| A．missing Ed’s funeral |
| B．moving away from his neighborhood |
| C．forgetting to send Ed Christmas cards |
| D．not being able to keep in touch with Ed |
How often do you use your car? Can you use your car less often? Do you know the following facts in the UK?
• About 50% of all car journeys are just for fun.
• Over 80% people go to work by car.
• 25% car journeys are under two miles.
• 70% car journeys are under five miles.
WALKING & CYCLING
Instead of using the car for short journeys, why not walk or ride a bicycle? Walking is a most popular form of exercise—it’s healthy and it can save you money. If you work nearby, try walking or cycling instead of driving.
BUSES
Bus companies are using new buses: some run on new fuels which produce less pollution; some have easier access for disabled and old people. There are special traffic lanes (行车道) to make bus journeys easier and more reliable. So do something to help solve the pollution problem—let the bus take you to work and your children to school.
TRAINS
All car journeys, long or short, can be hard work. For some trips it is wiser to take the train. Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or take a bus to and from the station. Train travel is fast, safe and comfortable. Train tickets are not always expensive; some are quite cheap at discount.How many of car journeys are just for fun in the UK?
| A．25%. | B．About 50% | C．70%。 | D．Over 80%. |
The writer believes that ________ can give children valuable road experience.
| A．walking to school | B．travelling by train |
| C．taking new fuel buses | D．having car journeys for fun |
What is the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To teach people how to use the buses. |
| B．To encourage people to travel by train. |
| C．To advise people to use cars less often. |
| D．To tell people to obey traffic rules. |
Lily，Susan, David, Chris和Michael分别计划假期去景点旅游，阅读下面旅游杂志上的6个旅游广告（A、B、C、D、E和F），从中找出符合5位兴趣爱好的最佳选项，选项中有一项是多余选项。
1. David：I like a relaxed and simple lifestyle.
2. Lily：I enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife. I want to surf and learn about Hawaiian culture.
3. Susan：I like a relaxed lifestyle. I want to take a scenic helicopter and watch the amazing eruptions( 火山喷发) of red-hot lava.
4.Chris：I like surfing and mountain-climbing and enjoy shopping, dining and nightlife.
5. Michael：I love outdoor activities and want to take a scenic helicopter.
| A Oahu Island – the gathering place Home to 80 per cent of Hawaii’s people, Oahu lets you enjoy the bustling and colourful city life of Honolulu, and world-famous Waikiki beach. Glamorous Waikiki is the main place for sun and surf. Otherwise go swimming, snorkeling, or relax and sunbathe on the many other fabulous beaches. Oahu is the place to be for shopping, great dining and great nightlife! But if nightclubs aren’t your scene, you may like to visit the museum at Pearl Harbour, or climb Nuuanu Oali mountain to find the best view of the whole island. |
| B Hawaii – the big island Hawaii is also the name of the biggest island of the group. If you’d like a more relaxed lifestyle with friendly locals, then the Big Island has plenty of room for you. Take a helicopter ride around snow-capped Manna Kea, the highest mountain in the world if you measure from the ocean floor. Or visit Kilauea, the world’s largest active volcano（活火山）. Hawaii’s dramatic black lava landscape even include beaches with black sand. |
| C Kauai – the garden island Small and uncrowded, Kauai is the perfect gateway for families and couples looking for a peaceful holiday. It has world-class golf courses, with great views! This island is ideal for those who love outdoor activities. The beautiful green Na Pali cliffs and coast are a great place to go camping, hiking and horse riding. You can go kayaking on the river, or take scenic helicopter flights. |
| D Maui – the rainbow island Maui combines beautiful scenery with luxury resort-style living. No matter where you stay, you’ll see many wonderful rainbows. Of course there are the lovely beaches for snorkeling, surfing and whale watching, but you can also hike up Haleakala, the world’s largest inactive volcano. The town of Lahaina offers a lu’au - a fun evening of hula dancing and traditional banquet. It isn’t as busy as Waikiki, but there are still plenty of shopping, fine restaurants and nightlife. |
| E Lanai – Hawaii’s best-kept secret Far away from the crowds, this island offers you a totally relaxing experience. It is a haven for all kinds of wildlife. You can go fishing on the deserted beaches, or just laze there. Maybe you can climb Lanaihale mountain. From the top you can see all the other islands. |
| F Molokai – very different The lifestyle here lets you understand the way Hawaii was many years ago. If you’re looking for a total escape from a busy city life, this is definitely the place. Forget shopping, fancy dining and nightlife. Let a guide bring you on a horseback or bicycle tour of the rugged but beautiful scenery. Hike over the stunning cliffs of the Kalaupapa peninsula. The most important thing to do on Molokai, though, is relax and slow down. |
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