Now the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
( MUSIC)
Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.
Red is a hot color. Americans often use it to express heat. When they are red-hot, they are very angry about something. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say such music is red-hot.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the 20th century. It probably comes from the fact that many babies are born with a nice pink color that shows that they are in good health.
Blue is a cool color. The blues music in the United States is the opposite of red-hot music. Blues is slow and sad. Someone who is blue is very sad.
The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in the stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green. Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the color of the back of the paper money.
The color black is used often in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day.
(MUSIC)
I’m Warren Scheer. Listen again next week for another Words and Their Stories program in Special English on the Voice of America.We say you are in the pink when you are _______________.
| A．very sad | B．very happy |
| C．in good health | D．feeling well |
What does the word “ upset” mean ?
| A．happy | B．sad |
| C．satisfied | D．active |
We describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a __________ day.
| A．red | B．green |
| C．pink | D．black |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．People in the USA use black to express heat. |
| B．If you are blue, you are very happy. |
| C．Green is a natural color for humans. |
| D．If you have a sick feeling in the stomach, you feel a little green. |
What is this passage probably written for?
| A．A radio program. | B．A news report. |
| C．A telephone call. | D．A TV play. |
The human brain weighs about 1.4 kilograms, but it can, hold much more information than most computers. However, there is another difference between humans and computers. Computers don't forget information they are given, but humans often do. No one remembers everything, and luckily we don't usually have to. But everyone can improve their memory if they want to. Here are some suggestions.
◆Try to use new information immediately. For example, if you meet someone who says "Hi! I'm Carlos," don't just say "Hello." Repeat the person's name. Say"____"
◆Break a big number into smaller parts. For example, it's hard to memorize 109244153. But if you break it into three parts--109/244/153—it becomes easier.
◆Write out what you need to remember over and over again. This will help you keep it in mind longer, especially for memorizing formulas (公式) or facts.
◆Always review information. If you bring what you've learned back to your mind, they become easier to remember. For example, before you go to sleep, it’s a good idea to review the new things you learned that day.
◆Discuss with a friend. It is always easier to remember things through discussions. You can have a discussion about what’s right and what's wrong, and it will lead to the right answer.
◆Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory. You can always do something to help improve your memory. And everyone's memory gets better if they use it often enough.
All of the suggestions are helpful. If you follow them, you are certain to improve your memory.How many suggestions are mentioned in the passage?
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
Which should be put in the blank (空格) in Paragraph 2？
| A．Hello, Carlos. | B．How do you do? |
| C．Hello, I am Sophia. | D．Glad to meet you! |
What can help memorize a big number more easily according to the passage?
| A．To store it in a computer. |
| B．To break it into stunner parts. |
| C．To discuss it with a friend. |
| D．To review it before you sleep. |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Discussing with friends can help you remember things. |
| B．Always reviewing information can help you fall asleep. |
| C．Formulas and facts can help you learn about your brain. |
| D．Human beings can improve their memory by computer. |
What does the sentence "Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory” mean?
| A．You should tell others about your bad memory. |
| B．You should believe in other people all the time. |
| C．You should ask others to improve their memory. |
| D．You should be confident in your memory ability. |
| All residents: Rules for living in Parkrise Flats We all want to live comfortably and safely here, so here are a few simple rules which we think all residents should follow. |
| Rubbish Rubbish collection is on Tuesdays. Please do not leave rubbish bags out before Tuesday as birds and animals can break into them and they smell. Washing There is a washing line for every flat in the garden next to the car park. Please only dry your washing on these lines so it does not disturb(干扰) people in the ground floor flats. Cleaning The main stairs are cleaned twice a week by the Association, so please try to keep them tidy and clean and do not leave furniture or bags on the stairs or in the hallways. Lights The main lights are on a timer and they stay on for five minutes when you press them. Please tell the Association if any lights are not working. Noise Residents are asked to keep noise to a minimum. Loud music, etc. can disturb other people and the Association will get in touch with you if you make too much noise. Safety Make sure the main outside door is always locked and do not let anyone in to the main building unless you know who they are. Sometimes people try to get in to the main stairs and then break into flats, so do not let people in unless they are coming to see you. Parking Each flat has one car parking space. These are numbered and are at the back of the building. Do not use another resident's space. If you have more than one car you will have to park it on the road. Do not park where you are blocking entrances. Problems If you have any problems or questions, please call the Association at 0800 096 9000. Parkrise Housing Association |
What's the purpose of the text?
| A．To list the services offered by the Association. |
| B．To make an advertisement for the flats. |
| C．To ask the residents to follow the rules. |
| D．To warn people against possible dangers. |
According to the text, which of the following is done once a week?
| A．Rubbish collections. |
| B．Drying the washing. |
| C．Cleaning the main stairs. |
| D．Changing the lights. |
People should dry their washing on the watching lines ________.
| A．at the car park | B．in the ground floor flats |
| C．in the hallways | D．in the garden |
The Association will talk with you if ________.
| A．lights are not working |
| B．you make too much noise |
| C．you let strange people in |
| D．you park your car on the road |
It can be learned from the text that ________.
| A．people should leave the broken chairs on the stairs |
| B．the Association is always ready to help the residents |
| C．one can park the car at any numbered parking space |
| D．the lights will be on whenever you pass the main stairs |
任务性阅读(5分)
Shopping List
a shirt ￥45.00
a pair of jeans ￥65.00
10 potatoes ￥6.00
4 bottles of orange juice ￥8.00
a kilo of fish ￥10.00
half a kilo of beef ￥12.00
2 kilos of apples ￥4.00
4 kilos of bananas ￥14.00
10 pieces of bread ￥15.00
根据所给购物清单，简要回答下列问题。How much did the two kinds of fruit cost?
______________________________________________________________How many kilos of fish and beef are in the shopping list?
______________________________________________________________How much should three pieces of bread cost?
______________________________________________________________What cost 8 yuan?
______________________________________________________________How much more did the jeans cost than the shirt?
Miss Wang is a young teacher of English in a middle school in Chongqing. She loves teaching very much. One day when she was giving an English lesson, she found Mr. Li, the headmaster, sitting at the back of the classroom. After class, Mr. Li told her that he came to her class to find out how much English and Chinese she was using in class. The result was about half English and half Chinese. She was using Chinese when she gave instructions (指示) and explained some grammar rules to her students. Mr. Li suggested that she should use English as much as she could in class.
So Miss Wang made the following plans:
Join an English club and practice speaking English.
Learn more English teaching expressions by heart.
Have a five-minute talk with students in English before class.
She used body language to make herself understood if students could not follow. One year later, she found she could speak English fluently in class.
根据短文内容，选择正确的答案。Miss Wang .
| A．hates to teach English |
| B．is a teacher of Chinese |
| C．loves her job |
| D．is angry with the headmaster |
Mr. Li came to Miss Wang’s class to .
| A．practice speaking English |
| B．make Miss Wang understood |
| C．give instructions to the students |
| D．find out how much English and Chinese Miss Wang was using in class |
After Mr. Li left, Miss Wang realized that she should in her class.
| A．use more Chinese |
| B．use more English |
| C．use half English and half Chinese |
| D．use body language |
The underlined word “fluently” means .
| A．easily and well | B．completely |
| C．loudly | D．recently |
What’s the main idea of this passage?
| A．Joining an English club. |
| B．Talking with the students before class. |
| C．Speaking more English in English classes. |
| D．Learning more English teaching expressions. |
Helen Keller was a US author(作者)and public speaker who became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months. Anne Sullivan became her teacher in 1887 and taught her to read, write, use sign language and speak. Keller received degree(学位)from Radcliff College in 1904 and spent the rest of her life encouraging others with difficulties like her to overcome them. He works hard all the time. Her books include The Story of My Life (1902) and Out of the Dark (1913). Her life was the subject of the play The Miracle Worker.Helen Keller was an author in .
| A．English | B．America |
| C．Australia | D．China |
When she was 19 old, Helen Keller became blind and deaf.
| A．days | B．years |
| C．months | D．seconds |
Did Helen Keller receive a college degree?
| A．Yes, she did. | B．Yes, he did. |
| C．No, he didn’t. | D．No, she didn’t. |
Which book is written by Helen Keller?
A. The Story of My Life. B. Out of the Dark.
C. One Million Pound. D. A and B.Helen Keller is a/an person.
| A．honest | B．hard-working |
| C．beautiful | D．lovely |
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