My parents moved from Mexico to South Texas in the early 90s with the hope for a brighter future for their family of nine---my parents, four boys and three girls. My parents have always wanted the best for us and they have done everything possible to encourage us to get a university degree. Never did they think that by pushing us that direction, it also meant encouraging us to move away and be distant from each other.
Initially(起初), getting accustomed to the American culture and lifestyle was very difficult for my parents. They come from a culture where kids grow up together, go to school together and most of the time live in the same neighborhood. From our point, American family values were a bit different. Typically in the US, when you turn 18, you are expected to graduate from high school, move out, find a university, possibly find a partner, get married and start a life together. Most of these decisions take you away from home; usually you have to follow opportunity and wherever that will take you.
This is my family’s current situation. I graduated from Bethel College in Indiana in 2010, and in order to fulfill my financial responsibilities of paying off student loans, I moved to Washington State for my job with Experience Mission. Ideally my parents wanted me to come home to South Texas, but that wasn’t where my opportunity took me.
Currently, my sister Jennifer lives in Waco, Texas, about eight hours from my parents. My two younger brothers also decided to go to college at Bethel and are away from my parents. More than likely, when they graduate, they will probably not move back home to South Texas.
My parent never imagined that their dream for a better future would separate our family this way.
Facebook has played a crucial(决定性的) role in the way we communicate while living in different places. Since we all use Facebook, we have found a place to connect and feel as if we were there together with each other.
We can infer from the first paragraph that ________.
A.the writer’s family are immigrants to America |
B.the writer’ family came to America for a better future |
C.the writer’ parents’ didn’t want their children to get a university degree |
D.the writer’ parents pushed their children away from each other |
The writer’s parents found it hard to be used to American life because ________.
A.they were strangers in America |
B.they suffered from a culture shock |
C.the local people disliked their family |
D.different countries have different lives |
The writer didn’t return to work in South Texas after graduation because ________.
A.he owed a lot of money while studying at college |
B.he didn’t graduate from university |
C.he found his opportunity in Washiongton State |
D.his father couldn’t find him a job in South Texas |
What will probably be talked about in the paragraph after the last?
A.The writer’s parents’ life in Texas. |
B.How the parents learn to use Facebook. |
C.What the writer’s brothers’ and sisters’ lives are like. |
D.How the writer’s family communicate through Facebook. |
Several weeks had gone by______ I realized the painting was missing.
A.as | B.before | C.since | D.when |
假定你是班长李华,请根据以下内容给新任外教Smith先生写一封信, 向他表示欢迎并转达同学们对英语课的希望:
1. 介绍西方文化;
2. 组织多样活动;
3. 关注学生发音, 提高听说能力。
注意:
1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3.开头已为你写好。
Dear Mr. Smith,
I’m writing on behalf of my class to extend our warm welcome to you. Here are some of our expectations for your English class.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Yours truly,
Li Hua
He is the man who for many people has been a role model. Now your biggest hero deserves a special day you can express your thanks and let him know how much _ (important) he is to you than any other model.
The idea of Father’s Day came from American woman called Sonara Smart Dodd in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day (honor) her father. He raised six children by __ after his wife died. Dodd thought there needed to be a day to honor loving dads.
The first Father’s Day (celebrate) on June 19, 1910. In 1924, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a (nation) Father’s Day. Finally, in 1996, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
The third Sunday of June—which (fall) on June 21, 2015—is Father’s Day. Here are some ways to show your love and respect:
* Send him a (greet) card. Fathers prefer cards which are not too emotional. So choose one that will make him laugh.
* If he has a computer, cover his desktop words like “I Love you Dad”.
* A small present, such as a framed photo of your family, can make him feel like a king.
Fashion refers to the styles of dress that are currently popular. Fashion goes beyond just clothes, though. It’s important for some people to wear only the latest fashions and styles. For others, though, keeping up with trends (潮流) isn’t that important. The one thing that stays the same with fashion is this: it always changes!
In the 1960s and 1970s, hippies made bell-bottomed blue jeans popular. In the 1980s, Michael Jackson made parachute pants all the fashion. Now try to find these items in today’s clothing stores!
Why do fashions change? The answer is probably as simple as the fact that people change. Over time, the new replaces the old. People are influenced greatly by popular culture, including athletes, musicians, movie stars, as well as popular films, televisions shows, books and music. We are also influenced by the fashion industry’s advertising.
The stars of popular culture are always searching for a new angle to maintain (保持) their popularity. Often these new angles come in the form of new clothing or hairstyles. When people see these new styles, they often want to imitate their favorite stars. To do so, they seek out the latest fashions to make themselves look like the people they want to imitate. In this way, fashions evolve and change over time.
For years, clothes have been used to separate people into groups. Even today, brand-name clothing that is more expensive than other types of clothing can be used by some people to distinguish themselves from others. Unfortunately, this can often have the effect of distancing certain groups from others.
Don’t forget that it’s always OK to develop your own sense of style that is unique and separate from what the fashion world determines! Stay true to yourself and let your personality — not your clothes — speak for who you are.
The examples of bell-bottomed blue jeans and parachute pants in Paragraph 3 are used to show that _______.
A.people often have different dressing styles |
B.trends of fashion are changing all the time |
C.people are always affected greatly by the stars |
D.hippies and Michael Jackson are good designers |
Fashion change mainly because _______.
A.new films and shows replace the old |
B.movie stars are changing over time |
C.popular culture influences people |
D.advertisements change rapidly |
We can learn from the text that _______.
A.clothes may separate and distance people |
B.people like imitating others’ dressing style |
C.the author has clearly gone out of fashion |
D.fashion is all about clothes people wear |
In the last paragraph, the author mainly wants to stress _______.
A.the advantages of staying unique and separate |
B.the bad effects of following fashions and styles |
C.the good benefits of popular styles to people |
D.the importance of having one’s own personality |
We travelled together as far as Chicago, _______ we parted.
A.when | B.which | C.why | D.where |
The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said humorously, “England and America are two nations divided by a common language. If he were writing today, he might add ‘divided by a common technology--- e-mail’”.
Two completely different styles of e-mail have formed on either side of the Atlantic-Euromail and Amerimail. Americail is informal and chatty. It’s likely to begin with a “Hi” and end with a “Bye”. The chances of Amerimail containing a smiley face or an “xoxo” are disturbingly high. We Americans are unwilling to dive into the meat of an e-mail. We feel we have to first inform recipients (收信人) about our vacation on the island which was really excellent except the jellyfish were biting and the kids caught a cold, so we had to skip the whale watching trip, then about that investors(投资者)’ meeting in New York. Amerimail is a bundle of contradictions, casual and yet direct, respectful yet over proud. In other words, Amerimail is America.
Euromail is stiff and cold often beginning with a formal “Dear Mr. X” and ending with a simple “Sincerely”. You won’t find any mention of kids or the weather or jellyfish in Euromail. It’s all business. It’s also slow. Your correspondent might take days even weeks to answer a message. Euromail is exactly like the Europeans themselves.
Recently about 100 managers were asked on both sides of the Atlantic whether they noticed differences in e-mail styles. Most said yes. Here are a few of their observations:
“Americans tend to write (e-mail) exactly as they speak.”
“Why don’t you just call me instead of writing five e-mails back and forth?”
“Europeans are less interested in checking e-mail”.
“In general, Americans are much more responsive to e-mail—they respond faster and provide more information.”
So which is better, Euromail or Amerimail? I realized it’s not popular these days to suggest we have anything to learn from Europeans, but I’m fed up with an inbox filled with casual, barely meaningful e-mails from friends and colleagues. If the alternative is a few earnestly written, carefully worded bits of Euromail, then I say, “Bring it on.”
What did George Bernard Shaw mean by saying “England and America are two nations divided by a common language”?
A.There is sharp difference between England and America despite their common language. |
B.Both England and America speak the common language, so they are much the same. |
C.Either England or America is a divided nation, though they share a common language. |
D.There is not much difference between British English and American English. |
Which of the following is most likely to be the “meat” of an Amerimail?
A.The jellyfish were biting. |
B.We had an excellent vacation on the island. |
C.We were to attend the investors’ meeting in New York. |
D.We had to skip the whale watching trip. |
On receiving an e-mail, Europeans tend to __________.
A.respond to it immediately and earnestly |
B.never respond to it all |
C.respond by calling up their correspondent |
D.take more time than Americans to respond to it |
What are characteristics of Amerimail?
A.Stiff and cold |
B.Casual and indirect |
C.Informal and chatty |
D.Formal and direct |
We can conclude from the passage that __________.
A.the different e-mail styles do much harm to the relationship between the two sides on Atlantic |
B.the writer doesn’t like either e-mail style as both have their own shortcomings |
C.Euromail always impresses the writer as something more pleasant to read |
D.Amerimail is more appreciated by the writer for being informative and casually written |
Fifty people died, over 11,000 were injured, and 100,000 houses were heavily damaged or destroyed in an earthquake that struck North China's Hebei Province.
The quake, measuring 6. 2 on the Richter scale (里氏6 .2级) , hit the area 220km northwest of Beijing at 11: 50 a. m. on January 10, 1998.
Scientists made a report of the recent quake. They said that the area of northwestern Beijing, the joint of Shanxi and Hebei Provinces and the Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) were most easily attacked by earthquakes measuring 6 to a bit over 7 on the Richter scale.
However, scientists did not see the recent earthquake earlier. Clouds covered a large area in the northern part of North China before the earthquake and experts say that this prevented satellites from correctly watching the temperature at the correct altitude (纬度).
Experts say that in the last ten years, about 305 earthquakes have taken place in China with 9 measuring over 7 on the Richter scale, 60 measuring over 6, and 236 measuring over 5.
Tens of thousands of people died or were injured. Loss valued over 10 billion yuan.
When the earthquake attacked the area, most people there were unlikely to ____.
A.sleep in bed | B.work in the fields |
C.walk in the streets | D.stay at home |
The report shows that about nine earthquakes in the past ten years are measured over ____ on the Richter scale.
A.7 | B.5 | C.9 | D.6 |
It can be inferred from the report that the damage caused by the earthquakes could be much less heavy if ____.
A.all the people stayed outside |
B.the earthquake happened at midnight |
C.the people had been warned earlier |
D.the earthquake scale was lower than 6. 2 only |
Which of the following can be reasonable except ____.
A.We can not stop earthquakes |
B.Scientists are working hard at the researches on earthquakes |
C.We can do our best to have fewer damages than ever |
D.Nothing can be done on earthquakes |
---Have the arrangements for the concert next Saturday been all _______?
---Not yet. We haven’t found a free hand.
A.in store | B.in trouble | C.in turn | D.in place |
They sold their house for only 12,000 dollars, so the buyer got a wonderful .
A.cost | B.bargain | C.view | D.value |
Homestay provides English language students with the opportunity to speak English outside the classroom and the experience of being part of a British home.
What to Expect
The host will provide accommodation and meals. Rooms will be cleaned and bedcovers changed at least once a week. You will be given the house key and the host is there to offer help and advice as well as to take an interest in your physical and mental health.
Accommodation Zones
Homestays are located in London mainly in Zones2, 3 and 4 of the transport system. Most hosts do not live in the town centre as much of central London is commercial and not residential(居住的). Zones 3 and 4 often offer larger accommodation in a less crowded area. It is very convenient to travel in London by Underground.
Meal Plans Available
♢Continental Breakfast
♢Breakfast and Dinner
♢Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
It’s important to note that few English families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast. Your accommodation includes Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice, cereal(谷物类食品),bread and tea or coffee. Cheese, fruit and cold meat are not normally part of a Continental Breakfast in England. Dinners usually consist of meat or fish with vegetables followed by dessert, fruit and coffee.
Friends
If you wish to invite a friend over to visit, you must first ask your host’s permission. You have no right to entertain friends in a family home as some families feel it is an invasion of their privacy.
Self-Catering Accommodation in Private Homes
Accommodation on a room-only basis includes shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and often a main living room. This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle and is more suitable for the long-stay student. However, it does not provide the same family atmosphere as an ordinary homestay and may not benefit those who need to practise English at home quite as much.
The passage is probably written for________.
A.hosts willing to receive foreign students |
B.English learners applying to live in English homes |
C.travellers planning to visit families in London |
D.foreigners hoping to build British culture |
Which of the following will the host provide?
A.Physical training. | B.Medical care. |
C.Free transport. | D.Rooming cleaning |
What can be inferred from Paragraph3?
A.The business centre of London is in Zone 1 |
B.Zone 4 is more crowded than Zone 2. |
C.Hosts dislike travelling to the city centre. |
D.Accommodation in the city centre is not provided. |
Why do some people choose self-catering accommodation?
A.To experience a warmer family atmosphere. |
B.To enrich their knowledge of English. |
C.To enjoy much more freedom.. |
D.To entertain friends as they like |
The newly-discovered evidence led to the criminal _______ to five years in prison..
A.to be sentenced | B.being sentenced |
C.sentenced | D.be sentenced |
You should apologize _____ your mother _____ your rudeness.
A.to; to | B.for; to | C.to; for | D.for; for |
短文改错(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线( \ )划掉。
修改:在错的词下画一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
When I was a child, I hoped to live in the city. I think I would be happy there. Now I am living in a city, but I miss my home in countryside. There the air is clean or the mountains are green. Unfortunately, on the development of industrialization, the environment has been polluted. Lots of studies have been shown that global warming has already become a very seriously problem. The airs we breathe in is getting dirtier and dirtier. Much rare animals are dying out . We must found ways to protect your environment. If we fail to do so ,we’ll live to regret it .
Forget Cyclists, Pedestrians are Real Danger We are having a debate about this topic. Here are some letters from our readers. ■Yes, many cyclists behave dangerously. Many drivers are disrespectful of cyclists. But pedestrians are probably the worse offenders. People of all ages happily walk along the pavement with eyes and hands glued to the mobile phone, quite unaware of what is going on around them. They may even do the same thing while crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing or elsewhere. The rest of us have to evade (避让) them or just stand still to wait for the unavoidable collision. The real problem is that some pedestrians seem to be, at least for the moment, in worlds of their own that are, to them, much more important than the welfare of others. ——Michael Horan ■I love the letter from Bob Brooks about cyclists (Viewpoints, May 29). I am afraid they seem to think they own the roads. I was walking across Altrincham Road one morning when a cyclist went round me and on being asked what he was doing he shouted at me. The government built a cycle lane on the road but it is hardly used. The police do nothing. What a laugh they are! The cyclists should all have to be made to use the cycle lanes and wear helmets, fluorescent (发荧光的) jacket and lights at night and in the morning they should pay some sort of tax and be fined for not wearing them. ——Carol Harvey ■Cyclists jump on and off pavements (which are meant for pedestrians), ride at speed along the pavements, and think they have a special right to go through traffic lights when they are on red. I was almost knocked down recently by a cyclist riding on the pavement when there was a cycle lane right next to him. Other road users, including horse riders, manage to obey the rules so why not cyclists? It's about time they had to be registered and insured, so when they do hit a pedestrian or a vehicle, or cause an accident, at least they can be treated and there might be an opportunity to claim. ——JML Write to Viewpoints of the newspaper. |
Michael Horan wrote the letter mainly to show that _______.
A.drivers should be polite to cyclists |
B.road accidents can actually be avoided |
C.sine pedestrians are a threat to road safety |
D.walking while using phones hurts one's eyes |
Carol Harvey suggests that cyclists should _______.
A.be provided with enough roads |
B.be asked to ride on their own lanes |
C.be made to pay less tax for cycling |
D.be fined for laughing at policemen |
What is a complaint of JML?
A.Very few drivers are insured. |
B.Cyclists ride fast on pavements. |
C.Pedestrians go through red traffic lights. |
D.Horse riders disrespect other road users. |
The underlined word "they" in the third letter refers to ______.
A.accidents | B.vehicles |
C.pedestrians | D.cyclists |
The three letters present viewpoints on _______.
A.real source of road danger |
B.ways to improve road facilities |
C.measures to punish road offences |
D.increased awareness of road rules |