Is learning a foreign language ever easy? Yes. If you are five and move to another country, you will quickly pick up the language. But what about for the rest of us who are no longer five, and need to be polite when traveling for business or for pleasure? I think that answer is also yes. Language learning can be easy if you don’t want or need to learn too much.
The key to successful language learning in my mind is not to set the goal too high. It is rather like running. Even if you run twice a week, you don’t necessarily want to be able to run a marathon (马拉松). You might just want to keep a level of fitness. I think the same can be true for language learning.
Let’s get back to the goal. If you decide to learn ten words in a foreign language before visiting the country, you know that you will be sure to do this. However, if you decide to talk to people with great fluency (流利), unless you are quite a talented person, you will probably fail and give up in half-way.
It is also far easier to start learning a foreign language than to finish. In other words, the better you are, the slower it can be to improve, because you will not be able to move further because of grammar, making sentences, learning less common words, etc. If you are only trying to learn a few foreign words and sentences, you will enjoy faster progress, have more fun, and won’t have to spend too much time.
The idea of learning only a few hundred words in a language, and then stopping, isn’t the usual way to language learning, but it can be a very meaningful and enjoyable activity.In the writer’s opinion, it is easy for adults to learn English if _______.
| A．they are especially talented people |
| B．they don’t want or need to learn too much |
| C．they have to spend a lot of time on it |
| D．they have a chance to go abroad |
The writer believes that if you want to be good at a foreign language, you will probably _______.
| A．forget your own goal |
| B．become a talented language learner |
| C．get tired of learning it |
| D．reach your learning goal |
The best title of this passage would be _______.
| A．Easy Language Learning |
| B．Hard Language Learning |
| C．Fluency in a Foreign Language |
| D．A way of Language Learning |
Once there was a man travelling in a faraway village. As he was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped. He found that these huge elephants were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains(锁链), no cages. It was clear that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their ropes but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and didn’t try to get away. “Well,” the trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they still believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can hold them, so they never try to break free.”
How could it be? These animals could at any time break free from their ropes. But because they were always stuck(固定) right where they were, they believed they couldn’t.
Just like the elephants, how many of us go through life believing that we cannot do something, just because we failed at it once before?
We should never give up the struggle(斗争) in life.Why do the elephants never try to break free from the ropes?
| A．Because they think they can not.. |
| B．Because they are too old to do it. |
| C．Because they like their living places. |
| D．Because they get on well with the trainer. |
How did the man feel after he heard what the trainer said?
| A．Moved. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Angry. | D．Nervous. |
Which of the following is the missing part(空白处) in the last paragraph?
| A．Failing is part of learning |
| B．We should be different from others |
| C．Helping animals is helping ourselves |
| D．Travelling always makes people relaxed |
What is the best title for this text?
| A．A Pleasant Trip | B．A Cruel Trainer |
| C．Elephant Training | D．The Elephant Rope |
It’s time for school! But on May 14th, 170 students at Duncanville High School in Texas, US, were told to go back home.
Why? Because they were wearing the wrong clothes to school.
Schools in the US don’t always ask students to wear uniforms. But they have dress codes(着装要求). For example, Duncanville High School tells students to wear belts, shirts without logos(标识).
Schools’ most-hated clothes are different.
In 2011, the saggy(松垮的) trousers law was passed in Florida. It stops students from wearing trousers that show body parts.
Now, “the favourite new target(目标) of the school dress code” is leggings(紧身裤), reported the Associated Press. Some schools don’t allow leggings. Other schools ask students to wear a shirt or a skirt over leggings.
Some students complain(抱怨) that schools are going too far. But schools say dress codes help protect students’ safety and make sure they grow up with good taste.
“We want to teach them that they must meet the expectations(期望) not only here in school, but also outside school,” said Andre Smith.What happened to 170 students at Duncanville High School on May 14th?
| A．They were told to go back home |
| B．They were wearing the uniforms to school. |
| C．They followed the school dress codes. |
| D．They didn’t know it was time for school. |
In Duncanville High School, students are allowed to wear .
| A．the wrong clothes |
| B．belts, shirts without logos |
| C．their favourite clothes |
| D．schools’ most-hated clothes |
How long has the saggy trousers law been used in Florida
| A．For a few weeeks. | B．For several months |
| C．For two years. | D．For three years. |
Some students complain that schools are going too far probably because .
| A．they want to grow up with good taste |
| B．they want to protect themselves |
| C．they are not happy with the rules |
| D．they are interested in skirts over leggings |
We can infer(推断) from the text that Andre Smith may be .
| A．the head of Duncanville High School |
| B．a student from Duncanville High School |
| C．the head of the Associated Press |
| D．a news reporter from the Associated Press |
A man lived in a village. He had an old cat at home. The cat counldn’t run fast, and shecouldn’t bite,because she was so old. One day, when she saw a mouse, she jumped and caught it. But she could not bite it. The mouse got out of her mouth and ran away.
Then the man became very angry and began to beat the cat. The cat said, “Don’t beat your old servant. I know I’m old and can’t kill a mouse. But I have worked for you for many years, and I still want to work for you. Be kind to the old, and remember what good work they did when they were young.”
When the man heard that, he realized that he was wrong.1. Where did the man live?
| A．In a village. | B．In a city. |
| C．In a factory. | D．In a hotel. |
2. What could the old cat do?
| A．Run fast. | B．Bite. |
| C．Catch a mouse. | D．Kill a mouse. |
.How did the man feel when the mouse ran away?
| A．Angry. | B．Happy. |
| C．Afraid. | D．Sad. |
. How long did the cat work for the man?
| A．Several days. | B．A few months. |
| C．About a year.. | D．Many years. |
5. What happened at the end of the story?
| A．The cat left home. |
| B．The man realized his mistake. |
| C．Tha man killed the cat. |
| D．The man didn’t believe the cat. |
Imagine the situation. You are driving along a desert or on a mountain. You have no idea where you are. You passed the last house two hours ago. Then your car breaks down. It is night and it is cold. You have no mobile phone. What do you do? Well, next time take a GPS with you. This invention may be able to help you. It is a device(装置) which uses satellites (卫星) to find the user’s position(位置). It can find your position to within 20 metres. A GPS cannot start your car, but at least you will know where you are.
GPS, which means Global Positioning System, is a small radio receiver. It looks like a mobile phone. You can hold it in your hand, or put in your pocket. It is sometimes put into a watch or a telephone. We also find GPS devices in cars, planes or boats. Some of these devices have electronic maps, so you know where you are. For example, in a city they can tell you the name of the street.
There are three parts to the Global Positioning System. The first part is the receiver. You can hold it in your hand, or have it fixed into your car, plane, etc. The second part is a group of satellites orbiting the Earth. The receiver contacts at least four of the satellites and calculates(计算) its position. The third part of the system is a network of ground stations. They are all over the world. They control the satellites and make sure they are working well.
Some people think that in the future the GPS will be as common as the mobile phone. They are becoming cheaper and more and more accurate(精确的). There are also new uses for the GPS. Perhaps they will become like watches. Everyone will have one and you will never be lost again.We can learn from the passage that ______.
| A．a GPS can help you start your car |
| B．there are three parts to the GPS |
| C．a GPS can’t be put into a watch |
| D．the GPS are becoming more and more expensive |
The underlined word “They ” in Paragraph3 refers to “______”.
| A．receivers | B．GPS devices |
| C．satellites | D．ground stations |
The passage is mainly about ______.
| A．the introduction of the GPS |
| B．the history of the GPS |
| C．the three parts of the GPS |
| D．the shape of the GPS |
What can we infer推断from the passage?
| A．All GPS devices have electronic maps. |
| B．People in many countries will use the GPS for free. |
| C．The receiver of the GPS contacts at least five of the satellites. |
| D．The GPS will become more and more common in everyday life. |
“My dear lady,” says Holmes. “You’re shivering. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea? ”
“I’m not cold,” the woman replies, “I fear for my life!”
“We are here to help you. Don’t worry about anything. I don’t know you. But I know many things about you. For example, I know how you travel. You came to London by train. You also ride to the train station on a horse-drawn wagon(马车).”
“Why, yes. You’re right. But how do you know these things?”
“ I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem.”
“My name is Helen Stoner,” she states, “My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather, Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a huge old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother’s money for expenses(开支). Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages.”
Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen’s story. He hears every detail(细节).
Helen continues. “My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him.”
“He has no friends at all?” asks Holmes.
“No. He talks to no one except the gypsies. They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now.”
“Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?”
“My dear Mr Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room.”How does Holmes know a lot of things about Helen before she tells her story?
| A．By guessing. |
| B．By studying the details about her |
| C．By asking her sister |
| D．By talking to people who know her well |
Paragraph6 beginning with “My name is …” is mostly about______.
| A．Helen’s dead sister |
| B．Helen’s trip to London |
| C．the house Helen lives in |
| D．Helen’s stepfather and the family |
Which of the following can best describe the gypsies according to the passage?
| A．They are very rich |
| B．They are afraid of other people |
| C．They live on a horse-drawn wagon |
| D．They move from one place to another |
The passage is probably from ______.
| A．a novel | B．a guide |
| C．a poem | D．an advertisement |
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