If you are a computer game fan, you must have heard of StarCraft. Recently, the University of Florida opened a StarCraft class for students. Maybe you feel confused when you hear of the news, maybe you think I am joking. But that’s true. In our mind, students are not allowed to play computer games by teachers and parents. Don’t you believe that the StarCraft class was set up in the University of Florida? Please read more.
Nowadays, the world is developing in a fast way, so it is very important for students to be good at skills such as solving problems, making decisions and critical thinking(批判性思维). It is said that all these skills appear in StarCraft. Therefore, StarCraft can provide a high effective environment for students to consider and take action in difficult situations.
“A student who gets a university education and goes into the business world could realize that something he learned in his StarCraft class helps him to think in a different way,” said one teacher in the University of Florida.
“The StarCraft class offers a new way to students to study. Study is not only about learning things from books,” said another teacher.
Not all the students can take the StarCraft class. The class is only open to the students who have some knowledge about the game.Why did the University set up the StarCraft class?
| A．Because many students like it. |
| B．Because the world is developing in a fast way. |
| C．Because students can learn some important skills. |
| D．Because students are not allowed to play at home. |
The underlined word “effective” means “_____” in Chinese.
| A．有效的 | B．友好的 |
| C．有用的 | D．真实的 |
Some don’t believe that the StarCraft class was opened in a university because_________.
| A．most students don’t like StarCraft. |
| B．they think StarCraft is not easy to play |
| C．they think that the StarCraft class can’t bring enjoyment to students |
| D．they don’t think students are allowed to play computer games at school |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．It’s about who invented the game, StarCraft. |
| B．It’s about a StarCraft class opened in the University of Florida. |
| C．It’s about the importance of university education. |
| D．It’s about how to be a winner in the business world. |
Last month the manager（经理） of a jewelry shop ( 珠宝店) received a letter. As he was very busy then, the letter lay on his desk till tea-time. He opened it and a 10-pound note(票 ) fell out onto the desk. Within the note was a letter which said:
Dear sir:
In 1935 I got engaged(订婚 ). But unfortunately I lost my job. At the time a lot of people were out of work. Six months later I got a job again, but of course I was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring(婚戒 ). The assistant took out some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I didn’t know the size of my girl’s finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring. My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for the ring has been heavy in my heart all these years. At that time, the ring cost 2 pounds so I think it is 10 pounds at today’s price and I’m sending 10 pounds.
Yours truly,
A customer (顾客 )What happened in 1935?
| A．The jewelry shop lost some rings. |
| B．The customer married a girl. |
| C．The customer stole (偷窃) a ring for his wife. |
| D．The customer stole a ring for his girl friend. |
What do you think of the customer?
| A．Honest | B．Forgetful | C．Dishonest | D．Careless |
Saying no can be very difficult. People who are very shy often have little confidence. They think that they have to meet everyone’s need. It is very hard for them to say no. they sometimes feel shy if they say no, but doing things that they don’t want to will make them unhappy.
A simple and direct “No” is the best way. If you want to explain, you can keep it simple. Just say, “No, I’ve already made plans for this time” or, “Sorry, I’m afraid I’m not free at that time.”
Other ways of saying no:
▲ I can’t do this right now.
▲ No, but thank for asking.
▲ Please accept that I cannot come.
▲ I’d rather not.
To say no you should:
▲ Start the sentence with the word no.
▲ Shake your head when you say no to make sure they understand. Your voice should be clear and direct. Keep eye contact.
If someone makes a request, it is necessary to ask for time to think it over. The decision should be up to you, but sometimes it is difficult to say no. You can try to reply in the following way:
“Sorry. I would have taken care of your cat next weekend, but I will be going out. I know it will be hard to find someone to take care of the cat. I will try to help you next time.” Remember that: you have the right to say no!
1. What does the writer encourage us to do?
2. How many ways of saying no are mentioned in the passage?
3. Who has a hard time saying no?
4. When you say no, what should you do as well?
5. If you want to refuse someone’s request, what will you say?
Creighton Carvello was called the Memory Man. He could remember hundreds of playing cards and pages of the telephone numbers in only a few seconds.
Creighton was born in India in 1944. He was the middle child of five and his father worked on the railways. In 1949, the Carvello family returned to England and settled(定居) in Middlesbrough, where Creighton spent the rest of his life. His father first noticed his great talent when, aged 7, he started to memorize information from cigarette cards with pictures of planes and cars.
After leaving school, Creighton developed his talent by memorizing more and more information. He soon became popular as he performed in clubs to show his great memory. He remembered the telephone number of anyone called Smith who lived in the Middlesbrough area. He first got into the record books in his thirties. He travelled around the world, showed up on television and amazed the audience with his memory.
Creighton was a man of many talents, including writing songs, drawing and telling jokes.
In his last years, Creightton moved to care home. The old people there would test his memory with questions such as naming what day of the week they were born on. Only days before he died, one lady gave her date of birth, July 29, 1921 and Creighton immediately replied, “Friday”. He died on November 18, 2008.What was Creighton most famous for?
a. His songs b. His jokes c. His drawing d. His memoryHow many children were older than Creighton in his family?
a. Two b. Three c. Four d. OneWhat happened when Creighton was five?
a. He left school. b.He first got into the record books.
c.His family returned to England. d.His father first noticed his great talent.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
a. Creighton spent the rest of his life in India.
b. Creighton was forced(强迫) to memorize things by his father.
c. Creighton played the piano in clubs after leaving school.
d. Creighton was a talented man.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
a. Creighton didn’t have a family.
b. Creighton died young because he memorized too many things.
c. Creighton died at the age of 60.
d. Creighton still had a good memory several days before he died.
This was not going to be a Mother’s Day as before. A lot of things had changed in the last few months. Usually we would give Mom flowers and take her out for a big meal. We couldn’t afford it this year.
Since I was born, Mom had been able to stay at home with me. We always had enough money to go out to eat two or three times a week if I had behaved well.
All that changed in January.
I could tell that Dad was getting a little angry. Mom would tell me to be quiet and let him rest at night. He’d work later and later.
Beginning in February, Dad tried hard to find another job. But it wasn’t easy for him to find something at the level he used to. He could not bring in as much money. That’s when he asked my mom to go back to work.
After a couple of weeks, Mom found a full-time job at a bank. The pay would be a big help to the family, but now Mom would not be around as much. I didn’t like it. I now had to stay in the after-school care program instead of going home and playing in my neighborhood. Too bad was, as soon as I did get home, I had to help get dinner ready, because Mom wouldn’t get home until after 6:00. I really missed the past time.
a) This was not going to be a Mother’s Day as before because the writer’s father wasn’t in
b) The writer’s home used to be rich.
c) His family changed because his father was mad.
d) In February, the writer’s mother started to work at a bank.
e) The writer really wanted his mother to stay with him
In Britain you may often hear “Drop in any time” or “Come to see me soon”, but you can’t really do that. People just say those things to make you feel welcome. It is better to telephone before visiting someone at home. If you receive a written invitation to an event that says “RSVP”, you should reply to let the person who sent the invitation know whether or not you plan to go.
You should never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. You may refuse by saying. “Thank you for inviting me, but I will not be able to com.” If, after accepting, you are unable to go, be sure to tell those who are expecting you as soon as possible that you will not be there. Although it is not necessarily expected that you give a gift to your host, it is considered polite to do so, especially if you have been invited for a meal. Flowers, chocolate, or a small gift are appropriate(合适的). A thank-you note or telephone call after the visit is also considered polite and is an appropriate way to express your appreciation for the invitation.What can you do when a British friend says, “Drop in anytime”?
a. Visit him or her at any time.
b. Say no to him or her seriously.
c. Telephone him or her before visiting.What does the word “RSVP” probably mean in Chinese?
a. 请自便 b.请回复 c.请审阅What should you do if your British friend sends you an invitation but you do not want to go?
a. Do not give him or her an answer.
b. Tell another friend to go instead of you.
c. Tell him or her that you can’t be there for some reason. Which of the following is considered impolite in Britain?
a. Buy small presents when invited.
b. Refuse the invitation without telling anyone.
c. Write a thank-you note after a visit.Where would you probably see this passage?
a. In an invitation b. In a guidebook c. On a poster
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