English is a very interesting language. It has borrowed words from many other languages. Immigrants(移民) coming into the United States have contributed many words to the language, which have kept their original pronunciation. “Coolie” and “kowtow” were taken from the Chinese language, “kamikaze from the Japanese, “shampoo” from India, “blitz” from German, “amigo” and “Los Angeles” from Spanish and so on.
Many students have studied English for years, some as many as eight. However, some students still have difficulty in speaking fluent English. Some know many words but are unable to discern them when native speakers use them. In our Oral English classes we will focus on speaking and listening to native English speakers. For this reason, because we are trying to train your ears to hear English and your mouths to speak intelligible (易理解的) English, we will have a rule that ONLY ENGLISH will be spoken in our English classes. Anyone speaking Chinese in class will be required to pay a fine(罚款) in order to encourage the speaking and understanding of English. If teachers enter a classroom and discover that anyone is speaking Chinese, they will require everyone in the room to pay the fine. It is everyone’s job to enforce the English-Only rule. It is for your benefit. It is because we want to accustom (使习惯于) your ears to hearing English.
Other subjects may be learned only from books but the only way to learn a foreign language is to SPEAK IT! Students are often nervous about speaking in class at first but we hope to make the classes fun, so you will forget your nervousness and learn to speak out. Enjoy your classes.The first paragraph is mainly about________.
| A．the difficulty of learning English. |
| B．different words in different languages |
| C．how interesting and various English is |
| D．the immigrants’ contributions to America |
The underlined word “discern” in Para 2 can be replaced by___________.
| A．notice | B．understand |
| C．hear | D．speak |
In the author’s opinion, the only way to learn a language well is to__________.
| A．listen to it on the radio |
| B．learn it from books |
| C．play games with it |
| D．speak it often |
The article is probably aimed at________.
| A．Japanese students | B．German students |
| C．Chinese students | D．Indian students |
LAS VEGAS (AFP) — Children may not like it but a British technology firm has invented an electronic babysitter -- a wristwatch-like device that lets parents know where their children are at all times.
The GPS Child Locator, or num8, attaches securely to a child’s wrist and contains a Global Positioning System (GPS), said Matthe
w Salmon, a spokesman for the manufacturer, lok8u.
"It uses GPS and GSM (Global System for Mobiles) technology with an accuracy of 10 feet (three meters)," he said. "It tracks your child."
"It only starts working when the device is
connected to the child’s wrist," Salmon said, and is "very difficult to get off."
"Even if the child managed to get it off it would send an emergency text message through to your mobile phone," he said. "It would give you a Google Maps image with their exact location, the street name and the zip code."
When a child is wearing the device, a parent sends the text message "wru" and the child’s current location is sent back to a mobile phone or computer.
Parents can also log on to the company website to discover their child’s present location.
"You can also set up a perimeter, an invisible fence, and if they wander out of this invisible fence which you put on the Internet it will warn you," Salmon said. "It will text you immediately."
Salmon said the device is waterproof and shockproof and lasts for three days with a full charge.
It will be available in both Britain and the United States this year and retails for 200 dollars with a 10 dollar a month subscription fee.
He said the company had received thousands of inquiries about the device since launching it this week. "Fifty percent are positive, 50 percent are negative, that it’s a bit Big Brotherish," he said. "But it’s really just about letting you have freedom of mind."Only when does the device begin to work.
| A．it uses GPS and GSM technology | B．it is put within about 3 meters |
| C．it’s joined to parents’ computer | D．it is fastened to the child’s wrist |
If a child is wearing the “wristwatch”, parents can track them by .
| A．sending the text message “wru” | B．replying to the text message |
| C．getting a Google Maps picture | D．phoning the local police station |
What Can we conclude from the text?
| A．It won’t be easily found if a child loses t11e device |
| B．The device won’t work while a child is swimming |
| C．Parents can easily track children due to the device |
| D．The new product needs to be fully charged daily |
The purpose of the text is to .
| A．explain how to use the new device |
| B．attract more buyers to the new product |
| C．discuss advantages of a new invention |
| D．introduce a new electronic equipment |
Visiting the Embassies of Washington, D．C．
Washington, D．C．is known for its many museums and government buildings．It is also home to embassies（大使馆）from more than 170 countries. Many of these buildings around the city have interesting histories. Some embassies are in large historical homes. Others were built more recently to show the building desihgn of their countries. Many embassies hold special cultural（文化）events.
The Embassy of Uzbekistan
It is in a richly decorated（装修）home built in 1906 by a wealthy banker, Clarence Moore. But Mr Moore did not live to enjoy his house for very long. He died on board the ship Titanic, which sank 1912·This building served as the Canadian Embassy before Uzbekistan bought it in 1996．
The Embassy of Finland
The Italian Embassy is near Massachusetts Avenue. Nearby, the Embassy of Finland looks like it is built out of blocks of glass．Its design is modern，but it fits in nicely with the natural environment around it．A screen of plants covers part of the front of the building．Inside．visitors Can look through large glass windows deep into the wooded areas of Rock Creek Park. The Finnish Embassy holds many interesting exhibits．
The Embassy of France
It is in a gated area off Reservoir Road．The embassy’s cultural center, La Maison Francaise, organizes many cultural events．Also．if you are very lucky, you might be invited to a party at the home of the French ambassador(大使)．This extraordinary home in the Kalorama neighborhood looks like a palace。Organizations like the Washington Opera sometimes hp1d events in this beautiful house。
The International Center
Last month，China opened a new embassy in the area of Washington called the International Center．C．C．Pei and L．C。Pei designed the building．Measuring more than 10．000 square meters，this is One of the biggest embassies in Washington．C．C．Pei said the areas of plants around the embassy
were to present people a natural and calming design．Which embassy was once a large historical home?
| A．The International Center． | B．The Embassy of Finland． |
| C．The Embassy of France． | D．The Embassy of Uzbekistan． |
What can we learn about the International Center from the text?
| A．It once belonged to a rich banker． |
| B．It was built out of blocks of glass． |
| C．It stands in the Kalorama neighborhood． |
| D．It is a newly—constructed building． |
At the Embassy of France，you
can .
A．see many exhibits of great interest
B．attend events in La Maison Francaise
C．invi
te the French ambassador home
D．visit its designers C．C．Pei and L．C．PeiThis text is most probably taken from
| A．a science magazine | B．a medical report |
| C．a travel guide | D．a history textbook |
A new hotel is set to open in a faraway village in northern Sweden，which intends to change the simple treehouse into a world—class hotel for travelers who enjoy special designs．
Treehotel，which lies in Harads about 60 km south of the Arctic Circle，will be made up of four rooms when it opens on July 17th：the Cabin，the Blue Cone，the Nest and the Mirrorcube．
Two more are due to open in O
ctober—the UFO and A Room With a View．
“Our goal in five years is to have 24 rooms from 24 different architects(建筑师)，”says Treehotel co-founder Kent Lindvall，who came up with the idea along with his wife Bfitta．
The first six rooms were designed by five different architects. The Mirrorcube which
stands four meters high and four meters wide has drawn widespread attention as it will be connected to a singletree．
‘‘It’s an interesting building．You cannot find anything like this in the world today．It’s really special，”says Lindvall，as he stands next to the room’s mirrored outer wall．
‘‘Everything will reflect(映照)in this—the trees，the birds，the clouds，the sun，everything．So it should be invisible nearly in the forest．’’
Lindvall says a special film will be put onto the glass which will be seen by birds。
‘‘This is untouched forest and—we want to leave it as it is．"says Selberg，another co-founder．
She adds．’’If we’re lucky we might see a bear．I think what’s exciting here is that we’re just 60 km below the Arctic Circle which means there’s a good possibility to have the northern lights in the winter and during the during the summer of course you have the midnight sun.”
The aim of Treehotel i
s “feel free in a tree” and the experience will cost up to 4,200 Swedish crowns ($555,50)for two guests in the Mirrorcube, which is designed to hold up to four guests.What do we know about Treehotel in Harads from the text?
| A．The hotel will provide six rooms in July. |
| B．It’s 60 km away from t11e Arctic Circle. |
| C．It is specially designed by one architect． |
| D．It was once all ordinary family treehouse． |
Why is the Mirrorcube kown by many people?
| A．It will be joined to one tree only. |
| B．It is in a distant village in Sweden． |
| C．It’s designed by a famous architect. |
| D．Its outer wall is covered with mirror. |
A special film will be used to
| A．take in light | B．protect birds | C．seize animals | D．keep off bears |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．A modem building． | B．A Swedish village． |
| C．A faraway village． | D．A special treehouse． |
One Sunday morning in June 1959 my mother walked into my room. “Surprise!” she said, proudly holding up a yellow dress. “I made it just for you. What do you think?”
I bit my tongue. How could I tell Mom it was the ugliest dress I had ever seen?
“It’s perfect for church,” my mother continued delightedly.“I wish someone had made a dress like this for me.”
Too bad you can’t wear it, I thought. But I knew Mom had spent a lot of time on the dress. No one should refuse.
Unwillingly I put it on.
All through church I prayed（祈祷）,Lord, let me get out of here without anyone seeing me. Especially Dennis Pearce, the boy I had a crush on, one of the coolest boys at Neptune High School. Although we were in some of the same classes, Dennis had never taken any noti
ce of me. Every time I got near him, I became tongue-tied.
At the end of the service I rushed for the door. But I had to wait on the steps while my parents chatted with their friends. Just a little while longer…Then out of the corner of my eye I saw the Pearces coming near. Before I could escape, Dennis was right beside me.
I started talking, hoping if I kept it up he wouldn’t notice my ugly dress. “I’m going to college in September,” I said.
“That’s great,” Dennis replied “I got accepted to police academy（学院）.”
“Wow!” I said. Somehow I kept the conversation going. The next thing I knew Dennis had asked me out on a date!
We courted（恋爱）through college, and eventually got married. Months after our wedding I asked Dennis if he remembered the day he had first asked me out.
“Certainly I do,” he said.“You were always quiet in school. I didn’t think you’d be much fun. But you were so lively when we talked on the church steps, I wanted to get to know you better.” Maybe that yellow dress wasn’t what I would have chosen, but that day it was the perfect dress for me.Why did she accept such a dress?
| A．She was fond of its new pattern. |
| B．Her Mom just brought it for her. |
| C．It was proper to go to church in it． |
| D．She understood her Mom’s love． |
The author tried to carry the dialog on，hoping .
| A．she would catch other boys’ attention |
| B．Dennis would get her out for a date |
| C．Dennis wouldn’t take notice of her dress |
| D．she could be noticed by Dennis’s parents |
The underlined part“had a crush on’’ in Paragraph 6 probably means：“ ”.
| A．10ved deeply | B．met by chance | C．100ked down on | D．worried about |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．An Ugly Dress | B．A Perfect Dress |
| C．A Dress for the Church | D．A Dress for the Date |
Cyberspace, data superhighway, multimedia, for those who have seen the future, and the linking of computers, televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever. Yet for all the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia, little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor. As for all the new high technology, the West concerns itself with the “how”, while the question of “for whom” is put aside once again.
Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communication revolution has affected the world economy. Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries, and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade and exchange, interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods. The electronic economy made by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets — with a destructive impact on the havenots.
For them the result is unstable. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As “futures” are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies.
So what are the options of regaining control？One alternative for developing countries is to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints ( 束缚，限制) on developing countries’ economies.
Communication technology is generally exported from the US, Europe or Japan；the patents, skills and ability remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, therefore imported products and services must be bought on credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain. From the passage we know that the development of high technology is in the interests of________.
| A．the rich countries | B．scientific development |
| C．the local government | D．the world economy |
It can be inferred from the passage that________.
| A．international trade should be expanded |
| B．the interests of the poor countries have not been given enough consideration |
| C．the exports of the poor countries should be increased |
| D．communication technology in developing countries should be modernized |
Why does the author say that the electronic economy may have a destructive impact on developing countries?
| A．Because it enables the developed countries to control the international market. |
| B．Because it destroys the economic balance of the poor countries. |
| C．Because it violates the national boundaries of the poor countries. |
| D．Because it constrains the industrial growth of developing countries. |
The development of modern communication technology in developing countries may _____.
| A．make their industrial production difficult |
| B．cause them to lose control of their trade |
| C．force them to reduce their share of exports |
| D．cost them their economic independence |
The author’s attitude towards the communication revolution is________.
| A．positive | B．critical |
| C．indifferent | D．tolerant |
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