Recently,I came across an interesting article on the differences between British English and American English. I had a lot of fun reading it and thinking of as many differences as I could as an American.
Their cars have “bonnets(发动机罩)”, while ourselves have “hoods”. They park their cars in a “car park” while we leave ours in a “parking lot”. Our “cookies” are their “biscuits”, while their “rubbers” are our “erasers”.
Then there are the food words. Would you want to eat something called “Toad in the Hole” or “Bangers and Mash” or “Spotted Dick”? I’m here to report they are all very tasty. There are American equivalents(相等物),of course. We’ve got “Shoofly Pie”, “Chicken Fried Steak” and “Mississippi Mud Pie”. What they call “crisps” is what we call “potato chips” and when we ask for “chips” in England we will get what we know at home in America as “French fries”.
They find it hysterical that we call the “toilet” the “bathroom” and they really double over(弯腰) with laughter when we ask for the “restroom”. American ladies in England who ask for the “little girl’s room” or the “powder room” will be met with blank stares. A “fag” is a “cigarette” in the UK, which can lead to endless confusion for British visitors looking for a cigarette in America. Americans on the other hand are endlessly confused by English signs put up over doorways saying “Way Out”. We Americans walk on the sidewalk not the pavement. “Pavement” in America is the actual cement(水泥) the sidewalk is made of.
What do British people call French Fries?
A.Chips. | B.Crisps. |
C.Shoofly. | D.Mississippi Mud Pie. |
The examples given at the end of the passage mainly show that _______.
A.Americans don’t like dealing with the British |
B.English signs are very hard for people to understand |
C.American English is very different from British English. |
D.Americans and the British may find it hard to understand each other |
What does the understand word “hysterical” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.difficult | B.Funny |
C.Perfect | D.Normal |
It would be difficult for British people to look for a cigarette in America because ______.
A.American people don’t like giving others cigarette |
B.it is not allowed to smoke in public in America |
C.Americans don’t know a “fag” means a “cigarette”? |
D.American people don’t smoke often |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some similar habits between Americans and the British. |
B.Different communicating ways between Americans and the British. |
C.Different body languages between Americans and the British. |
D.Some differences between American English and British English. |
There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway,wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car,so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive;I decided to wave back.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 p. m.. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile,I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weatherbeaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey.
he author expected the train trip to be ________.
A.exciting | B.pleasant |
C.dull | D.adventurous |
What did the author remember most fondly of her train trip?
A.The friendly country people. |
B.The mountains along the way. |
C.The crowds of people in the streets. |
D.The simple lunch served on the train. |
Which of the following words can best take the place of the word“relish” in the second paragraph?
A.choose | B.enjoy |
C.prepare for | D.carry on |
What can we learn from the story?
A.Comfort in traveling by train. |
B.Pleasure of living in the country. |
C.Reading gives people delight. |
D.Smiles brighten people up. |
D
Why do we call the sounds of birds, whales and insects songs? Because something about what we hear seems to have beauty, and some mellifluous (动听的) structure that touches us more than any possible message. Though for many years science has cautioned against hearing too much of what we humans would like to hear when we are trying to understand animal sounds, the musicality in some sounds is now starting to have an effect on the science of animal communication itself.
Many specific animal sounds express aggression(进攻), warning, or food, but such practical explanations are tough to apply to the long songs. Some whale songs can go on for up to 24 hours. The usual explanation for birdsong is that the birds are singing to attract mates or to announce the limits of their area. But the audience is not always evident for these long love songs, which have many of the elements related to human music: rhythm, melody (旋律), themes, repeating patterns, organization, variety, interest — all adding up to something humans have found beautiful for thousands of years. “Birds taught man,” wrote Roman poet and philosopher (哲学家) Lucretius, “and taught them songs before their art began.”
What is the scientific value of such sounds? The advantage of hearing music in nature and trying to reach out to nature through music is that though we don’t fully understand it, it is so accessible.
Music refuses explanation, but it clearly expresses something deep and important, which humans can’t live without. Finding music in the sound of birds, whales and other animals makes the farther frontiers(边缘) of nature see much closer to us.
The underlined phrase “cautioned against” in Paragraph 1 probably means “_______”.
A.warned against |
B.fought against |
C.been filled with |
D.been satisfied with |
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A.We call the songs of birds’ sounds because there is beauty that sounds pleasant to the ears. |
B.It is believed that birds are singing to attract mates or to warn the limits of their areas. |
C.The songs of a bird really carry an emotional message such as “aggression and caring”. |
D.It is not very long for people to know that birdsong does have something beautiful. |
By saying “Birds taught man”, what did Lucretius mean?
A.People teach rhythm, melody, themes, repeating patterns to birds. |
B.Birds can teach people how to go on singing a song up to 24 hours. |
C.Human music has, in fact, come from the sounds of birds in nature. |
D.Humans learned something beautiful from the sounds of many animals. |
From the passage we know that music in nature ________.
A.can’t be explained at all |
B.is very easy to pick up and listen to |
C.can’t be understood at all |
D.is of no scientific value |
D
In today’s world of cellphones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one timetelling tool with them. Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500yearold watch? According to some consumers, yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is “an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function”. Many young adults agree — and use their cellphones to tell time. Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago. As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads.
However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory business. And for many today, the image a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells.
“Complications” — features that go beyond simple timekeeping — are an important part of a watch's image. Today's watches offer a lot of features that suit almost any personality. These features include altitude trackers, compasses, lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!
Creativity is also a key element in today's watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches. The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell time. It looks more like a futuristic (未来主义的) bracelet than a watch. Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a “handless” watch. Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece.
Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget (小玩意儿) in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists. Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!
Why aren't watches popular with young people as before?
A.Because watches cannot keep good time as cellphones, mini laptops and MP3 players. |
B.Because watches are featured by the disadvantages of simple function. |
C.Because watches are too expensive to afford. |
D.Because watches don't have beautiful appearance as other modern timetelling tools. |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?
A.Watchmaking becomes the sunrise industry. |
B.Watchmaking is faced with the developing opportunity. |
C.Watchmaking is facing a survival crisis challenge. |
D.Watchmaking has a specific development target. |
It can be implied that ________.
A.people will gradually lose interest in watches as they grow older |
B.watchmakers scarcely change the development strategy for watches |
C.today's watches are better than those in the past in quality |
D.customers used to be more concerned with the quality of a watch than with its image |
The following qualities can make a watch popular EXCEPT ________.
A.multifunction | B.accuracy |
C.nice design | D.low price |
D
Legends about the development of coffee are varied and interesting, involving chance occurrences, political tricks, and the pursuit of wealth and power.
According to one story, a sheepherder named Kaldi, as he tended his sheep, noticed the effect of coffee beans. He noticed that the sheep became excited after eating the red “cherries" from a certain plant when they changed pastures (牧场). He tried it himself, and was soon as overactive as his sheep. Another story relates that a monk happened to discover that this fruit from the shiny green plant could help him stay awake.
Another legend gives us the name for coffee, “mocha”. Omar, an Arabian was thrown to the desert with his followers to die of starvation. In desperation, Omar had his friends boil and eat the fruit from an unknown plant. Not only did the soup save the group, but the residents of the nearest town, Mocha, took their survival as a religious sign. The plant and its beverage (饮料) were named Mocha to honor this event.
Coffee was introduced much later to countries beyond Arabia, whose inhabitants believed it to be a tasty thing and guarded its secret as if they were top secret military plans. The government forbade transportation of the plant out of the Moslem nations. The actual spread of coffee was started illegally. One Arab named Baba Budan smuggled (走私) beans to some mountains near Mysore, India, and started a farm there. Early in this century, some of those original plants were found still growing fruitfully in the region.
Coffee today is grown and enjoyed worldwide, and is one of the few crops that small farmers in third-world countries can profitably export.
What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?
A.A sheepherder used coffee beans to keep sheep excited. |
B.Coffee was a special kind of red cherry from a certain plant. |
C.A sheepherder and a monk accidently discovered coffee’s effect. |
D.Sheep ate a lot of coffee beans while they changed pastures. |
Which of the following involves political tricks?
A.Kaldi’s story. | B.The monk’s story. |
C.Omar’s story. | D.Baba Budan’s story. |
Mocha is originally the name of ______.
A.a town | B.an Arabian |
C.a kind of coffee | D.a sheepherder |
What can be the best title for the text?
A.The Secret of Coffee |
B.The Tales of Coffee |
C.People’s Love for Coffee |
D.The Function of Coffee |
D
Some inventions are so useful, but seem so simple, that we wonder why no one thought of them long ago.
Post-it Notes were invented about twenty years ago by Art Fry, a scientist at 3M Company. The idea for the product came from an awful experience he often had while singing in his church choir. Fry used pieces of paper as bookmarks to mark the places in his book of songs, but these bookmarks were always falling out. Around that time, Fry heard about a new adhesive (粘合剂) that a colleague, Dr. Spence Silver, had created. This adhesive was special because it was strong enough to hold papers together, but not strong enough to tear the paper when it was removed.
A short time later, Fry realized that his new invention had even more uses than being a great bookmark. He came to this realization when he wrote a note on one of his new “bookmarks” and attached it to a report he was going to give to a colleague. Soon, co-workers were asking Fry for more of his invention so that they could use the new type of notes themselves.
Fry and some other people at 3M believed so much in the new product that they asked the company to give away thousands of the “sticky pieces of paper” for trial use. When some salespeople at 3M went to offices and showed workers just how helpful the new type of notes could be, they immediately received many orders. As more and more people discovered how useful Post-it Notes could be, the product took off.
How did Dr. Spence help Art Fry?
A.He created the Post-it Notes. |
B.He offered the new adhesive to Art. |
C.His adhesive made Art’s invention possible. |
D.He often worked and discussed science with Art. |
Which of the following is a possible use of Post-it Notes?
A.A note on a friend’s door |
B.An ad in a newspaper. |
C.A postcard from abroad. |
D.An e-mail to a friend. |
Which of the following shows the proper order of the events?
a. The company gave away many “sticky pieces of paper” for people to try.
b. Dr. Spence created a new adhesive.
c. Many orders were received and the Post-it Notes became successful.
d. Fry invented Post-it Notes.
e. His colleagues began to use the new types of notes themselves.
A.d b a e c | B.b a e d c |
C.d e a b c | D.b d e a c |
In which column of a newspaper can we read this passage?
A.Economy | B.Recreation |
C.Science | D.Culture |
阅读表达(共5小题;每小题3分,满分15分)
Last December, Doris Low turned 90. Once a week she still drives to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) in Toronto, where she helps transform literature into Braille() to bring the power of story and knowledge to the hears and minds of blind readers. She has been volunteering her time and talents to such enterprises foe more than 40 years.
After working in the business world for a while, Low got fed up. So she turned to teaching at a technical school and later moved into the library.
Low’s mother liked reading. As her eyes began to fail, low read to her. Then “ hearing an advertisement encouraging people to learn Braille, I decided to give it a try.” In 1973, she was certified as a braille transcriber (转译者) and began transcribing books as a volunteer for the CNIB library.
The job was strenuous ---she could get to the end of a page, make a mistake on the last line, and have to do the whole thing again. For a number of years, low also worked in the CNIB sound studio reading books onto tape. Three years ago, she took up proofreading (校对) at the CNIB’s word factory.
In April, during Volunteer Week, the CNIB recognized Low for her great contributions. Thanks to volunteers like Low, the CNIB library has got more than 80,000 accessible materials for people unable to read traditional print. “ I can’t imagine how many readers of all ages have benefited from
Doris’s contribution as a skilled volunteer through her rich voice and her high degree of accuracy in the hundreds of books she has brailled and proofread over the years--- and she is still doing so,” said a CNIB official.
“For me,” said Low, “the CNIB is more than just a place to volunteer. Three thins matter most in my life: a little play, a little work, a little love. I’ve found them all here.”
What does Low still do at the age of 90 at the CNIB? ( no more than 10 words)
Why did Low learn Braille? ( no more than 15 words)
what does the underlined word “strenuous” most probably mean?(1 word)
What are Low’s contributions to the CNIB? ( no more than 10 words)
What do you think of Low? Give your reasons. ( no more than 20 words)
阅读短文,按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
I’m Evan Ducker. I’m just like every other 15-year-old teenager, except that I was born with a red birthmark .Doctors don’t know the exact cause of birthmarks like mine---but they do know it occurs in about 3 of every 1,000 children all over the world.
Some birthmarks are marks of serious medical conditions. I’m very fortune--mine isn’t. I pretty much live a regular life, except for people asking me about it all the time, which can get me annoyed sometimes. But, overall, my birthmark is just a spot on my skin. It’s not harmful to other people.
When I was about 4 years old, I asked my mom why there weren’t any characters with birthmarks in the books she would read for me. When we went to the library, we realized there weren’t any for little kids. My mom knew I was disappointed. There weren’t any books with cool characters who had birthmarks.
So she said we could write our own. She took all my ideas and we created the first book of its kind to educate kids about birthmarks and also offer a more realistic, positive character with a birthmark. I based the story on all real things that happened in my life. But instead of people, the characters in the book are real animals from the Galapagos Islands, including a red-footed bird. When people ask why I picked a red-footed bird as the main character, I tell them that the bird has red feet, similar to a human birthmark! He is pretty cool.
It was really tough to get my book published. It took a long time because a lot of publishers refused it. They would tell my family there wasn’t a market big enough for a book about birthmarks. But we knew the book wasn’t about birthmarks. It was about tolerance for people’s differences in general. We just picked a character with a birthmark because that was what I knew.
Why did Evan say he was very fortunate? ( no more than 12 words)
_____________________________________________________________________
Why did Evan want to write a book with characters who had birthmarks? (no more than 15 words)
______________________________________________________________________
What does the underlined word “tough” mean? ( no more than 3 words)
______________________________________________________________________
What did Evan think of the main character in his book? ( no more than 5 words)
_____________________________________________________________________
In your opinion, how would you treat a friend with a birthmark?
( no more than 20 words)
_____________________________________________________________________
B
Nelson Mandela is respected and admired across the world. And to South Africans he is a superstar. He is a hero who shocked the world by fighting for peace between races, despite the 27 years he spent in the prison of the South Africa’s white, racist regime(政权).
Mandela who won the nation’s first all-race elections after the fall of apartheid (种族隔离) in 1994, retired 1999.
But he remains as popular as ever.
“He’s loved by all people, whether you’re white or black, whether you’re young or old,” said Ali Bacher, South Africa’s former cricket (板球) chief.
His popularity has inspired an entire national industry. His portrait(肖像) has appeared at many places, including on some goods. His face has appeared on a South African coin, a metropolitan area was named in his honour and some business leaders hope to build a massive, rotating statue in his likeness --- the Statue of Freedom. It would stand taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty.
His popular appeal is similar to that of John F. Kennedy with US or Winston Churchill in Britain, but few politicians in this times have achieved his level of admiration, said Tom Lodge, head of the political science department of the University of the Witwatersrand.
“Sometimes it isn’t completely appreciated what a skilled performer Mandela has been throughout his political career. He’s a very, very clever man.” However, he is far from perfect.
Most articles for his birthday, which appeared in every major South African newspaper on the day, brief mentioned that Mandela did have his shortcomings.
Then they returned to their flowing praises.
“Through the ages, the human race has had its icons (偶像) --- men and women who rose above ordinary people to inspire their generations,” The Mail and Guardian Weekly said. “In our generation, the gods presented us Nelson Mandela.”
Nelson Mandela is loved by all the people of South Africa because _____.
A.he’s as popular as Kennedy and Churchill |
B.he spent 27 in prison |
C.he’s a great fighter against the racialism |
D.he’s the first all-race elections president |
Which of the following statements about Mandela’s portrait is true?
A.It helps develop business. |
B.It appears on the Statue of Freedom. |
C.It is used to raise money for the Statue of Freedom. |
D.It is similar to that of John F. Kennedy or Winston Churchill. |
The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means “________.”
A.Mandela is as great as a god |
B.We are proud to live in Mandela’s time |
C.Mandela lives together with us all |
D.We are proud to know Mandela |
What can we infer from the text?
A.Mandela is very skilled politician. |
B.Most articles specially stressed Mandela’s shortcomings. |
C.The Statue of Freedom is a present for Mandela’s birthday. |
D.The article may have appeared in a newspaper on Mandela’s birthday. |
San Francisco(People's Daily Online)-- Apple Inc. Tuesday introduced its mobile payment service Apple Pay alongside the company's iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California.
What apple does is to replace consumers' wallet with its cell phone. Apple said it hopes to speed up the checkout process, make credit-card payments more secure and ultimately, to replace physical wallets.
With the near-field communication technology, Apple's gadgets like iPhone and Apple watch can transmit a radio signal between the device and a receiver when the two are in an inch apart. "To pay, just hold your iPhone near the contactless reader with your finger on Touch ID. You don’t even have to look at the screen to know your payment information was successfully sent," Apple says on its official website.
Apple said that each transaction (交易)would be authorized(授权) with a one-time, unique number, creating a security code that it said is more secure than the one on the back of your credit card because cashiers won’t see your name, card number or security code. The service will work with the three major payment networks — American Express, MasterCard and Visa — and Apple said that there are 220,000 merchant locations that accept these contactless payments.
When some applaud this disrupted service that will compete with Paypal and endanger other online payment companies, some others concern about its safety, especially when another retailer Home Depot confirmed a data opening yesterday and iCloud was reported exposing nude (裸体)pictures of celebrities (名人) a week ago.
Leo Zheng, a technology reporter in Silicon Valley said: "When Apple attracts consumers to put all their cards into one iPhone and promised the security, Jennifer Lawrence should say something."
Which can be the best title for the passage?
A.Apple announces mobile payment service to replace consumers' wallet. |
B.Consumers can pay in cash through mobile phones. |
C.Apple Inc. will introduce new models to the market. |
D.Mobile payment will be popular soon. |
After reading the third paragraph, we know .
A.Apple’s new products are popular |
B.Apple can be used as an ID |
C.Apple's gadgets can receive message easily |
D.how Apple's gadgets work |
The attitude of the writer towards the mobile payment is .
A.indifferent (冷漠的) | B.objective |
C.skeptical | D.positive |
What could have happened to Jennifer Lawrence?
A.She made great contributions to Apple. |
B.She put all her cards into her iPhone. |
C.Her nude pictures were spread online. |
D.Her iPhone often broke down. |
The iPhone, the iPad, each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad (一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” – and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer – which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet –adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear – popular in the US and UK – that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes (前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability (轻便) .”adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
People use iPlayer to __________.
A.listen to music | B.make a call |
C.watch TV programs online | D.read newspapers |
We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at __________.
A.young readers | B.old readers |
C.fashionable women | D.engineers |
The underlined word “ambiguous” means “__________”.
A.popular | B.uncertain |
C.definite | D.unique |
Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are __________.
A.portable | B.environmentally friendly |
C.advanced | D.recyclable |
The writer suggests that __________.
A.“i” products are often of high quality |
B.iTeddy is alive bear |
C.the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products |
D.the popularity of “i” products may not last long |
Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make you stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities(设施) to the full.
Dining Room: Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Also the room staff(服务员) may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 7 a.m. If this happens, please fill out a card and hang outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch is from 12 to 2:30 p. m. Dinner is from 7:30 to 9 p. m.
Room Service: This operates 24 hours a day; phone the Reception desk(总台), and your message will be passed on to the staff.
Telephones: To make a phone call, dial(拨) 0 for Reception and ask to be connected. We apologized for delays(拖延) if the lines are very busy. There are also public telephones near the Reception desk. Tell Reception if early calls are needed.
Shop: The hotel shop is open for presents, gifts and goods from 9 a. m. to 5:30 p. m.
Laundry : We have a laundry in the building, and will wash, iron(烫) and return your clothes within 24 hours, ask the room staff to collect them.
Bar(酒吧): The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p. m. and 7 p. m. to 1 a. m.
Banking : The Reception staff will cash cheques and exchange(兑换) any foreign money for you.
You would see this notice .
A.in a hotel bar |
B.in a hotel dining room |
C.in a bedroom of a large international hotel |
D.at the entrance of a small family hotel |
You have arrived at the hotel at 2 a. m. and want a quick meal. What should you do?
A.Go to the hotel shop. |
B.Go to the hotel bar. |
C.Hang a message outside your door. |
D.Phone the Reception desk. |
Your phone is powered off and the Reception desk is busy. The quickest way to make an urgent(紧急的) call is to .
A.go to your room and phone from there. |
B.use one of the phones in the entrance hall |
C.ask the Reception desk to help you |
D.go out and look for a public phone box |
The underlined word “laundry” (in Paragraph 6) probably means ________.
A.phone box | B.shopping centre |
C.clothes shop | D.washhouse |
The text tells us that .
A.the hotel offers at least seven kinds of services |
B.it's too difficult to stay up in this hotel |
C.you can shop at any time inside the hotel |
D.you'll have trouble without the money of the country where the hotel lies |
Many of the problems facing today’s world aren’t news to us. The environment is in dire need of help because it’s being damaged, hunger is widespread throughout the world, and workers in the Third World Countries are continuously being exploited. Therefore, individuals across the globe need to band(团结)together for a cause and use their collective efforts to make all the difference in the world.
For instance, one person recycling a can or a bottle doesn’t seem like much. But if every household in a given city was to recycle and conserve energy, that city could make a huge positive impact on environmental damage. Similarly, there are countless ways to help fight world hunger—whether it’s to donate money to a dedicated worldwide charity, donate canned goods to your local charity, or even make lifestyle changes like going vegetarian. World hunger is a massive problem—but it doesn’t mean individuals themselves can’t make a difference.
Worker exploitation is another huge problem. All across the world—particularly in the Third World Countries—workers are forced to labor long hours, with close to no pay. Yet these workers continue to show up to such a way of life, because they have no other options.
So, how can people like us help fight such a big problem? Simply raising awareness of the products you buy in stores—from clothing to food—is a massive start. For example, if you see two similar products side by side in a food shop, but one of them is labeled “fair trade”, you’ll know immediately that the workers who labored to produce that product were given a fair price for their goods. And true, fair trade products might cost a little bit more, but buying them is a significant start to help fight worker exploitation.
In short, each of us should be socially conscious to make a difference to widespread social problems.
What problems facing today’s world are mentioned in the first paragraph?(no more than 8 words)
How can a city make a huge positive impact on environmental damage? (no more than 5words)
What should be done to fight world hunger? (no more than 8 words)
Why do workers in the Third Countries still continue to work long hours despite little pay? (no more than 6 words)
How is the product which is labeled “fair trade” different from other products? (no more than 10 words)
A 8.2-magnitude(震级)earthquake struck off the coast of northern Chile late on Tuesday, cutting power and leading to small landslides and a tsunami (海啸). Four men and one woman died —two who suffered heart attacks and three who were crushed(压死). About 300 prisoners escaped from the northern port city of Iquique in the immediate aftershock (余震).
The quake struck at about 8:46 p.m. local time, some 60 miles northwest of Iquique. It had a depth of 12.5 miles. Chile’s National Emergency Office asked coastal residents to leave for safe places. “The fact is, we will know the extent of the damage as time goes by and when we inspect the areas in the light of day,” Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet said early on Wednesday. “The country has faced these first emergency hours very well.”
Residents in the port city of Antofagasta walked calmly through the streets to higher ground as traffic became heavy in some places. “Many people are fearful after experiencing the powerful earthquake in 2010, so they immediately rushed to higher ground when they heard the tsunami warning,” said a government official.”There have been lots of aftershocks and communications have been cut off in many of the affected areas. So people are waiting in the dark hills, not knowing what is to come, and hoping they will be able to return to their homes safely.”
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center sent our several tsunami warnings, but called off all of them by early Wednesday.
Tsunami waves of more than six feet caused by the earthquake washed ashore on the coast of Pisagua. Iquique, with a population of more than 200,000, saw seven-foot waves.
The earthquake resulted in _____.
A.300 prisoners being trapped |
B.five people being crushed |
C.many cars being damaged |
D.some other natural disasters happening |
How did the whole country respond to the earthquake when it happened?
A.They were so fearful that they were in a panic. |
B.They went into the streets immediately. |
C.They acted very calmly. |
D.They drove to higher ground after hearing the warning. |
What difficulty did people in the hills face?
A.The weather was terrible. |
B.The communications were cut off. |
C.They got lost in the hills. |
D.Their houses were destroyed. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the passage?
A.The government had estimated(估计)the damage of the earthquake by early Wednesday. |
B.The tsunami waves in Pisagua were more than six feet high. |
C.Several tsunami warnings had been called off by early Wednesday. |
D.The earthquake happened in the evening and it had a depth of 12.5 miles. |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Chile Deals with Emergency Well. |
B.Tsunamis Caused by Aftershocks in Chile. |
C.A Powerful Earthquake Strikes off the Coast of Chile. |
D.Tsunami Warnings Work Well in Chile.. |
Recently,I came across an interesting article on the differences between British English and American English. I had a lot of fun reading it and thinking of as many differences as I could as an American.
Their cars have “bonnets(发动机罩)”, while ourselves have “hoods”. They park their cars in a “car park” while we leave ours in a “parking lot”. Our “cookies” are their “biscuits”, while their “rubbers” are our “erasers”.
Then there are the food words. Would you want to eat something called “Toad in the Hole” or “Bangers and Mash” or “Spotted Dick”? I’m here to report they are all very tasty. There are American equivalents(相等物),of course. We’ve got “Shoofly Pie”, “Chicken Fried Steak” and “Mississippi Mud Pie”. What they call “crisps” is what we call “potato chips” and when we ask for “chips” in England we will get what we know at home in America as “French fries”.
They find it hysterical that we call the “toilet” the “bathroom” and they really double over(弯腰) with laughter when we ask for the “restroom”. American ladies in England who ask for the “little girl’s room” or the “powder room” will be met with blank stares. A “fag” is a “cigarette” in the UK, which can lead to endless confusion for British visitors looking for a cigarette in America. Americans on the other hand are endlessly confused by English signs put up over doorways saying “Way Out”. We Americans walk on the sidewalk not the pavement. “Pavement” in America is the actual cement(水泥) the sidewalk is made of.
What do British people call French Fries?
A.Chips. | B.Crisps. |
C.Shoofly. | D.Mississippi Mud Pie. |
The examples given at the end of the passage mainly show that _______.
A.Americans don’t like dealing with the British |
B.English signs are very hard for people to understand |
C.American English is very different from British English. |
D.Americans and the British may find it hard to understand each other |
What does the understand word “hysterical” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.difficult | B.Funny |
C.Perfect | D.Normal |
It would be difficult for British people to look for a cigarette in America because ______.
A.American people don’t like giving others cigarette |
B.it is not allowed to smoke in public in America |
C.Americans don’t know a “fag” means a “cigarette”? |
D.American people don’t smoke often |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some similar habits between Americans and the British. |
B.Different communicating ways between Americans and the British. |
C.Different body languages between Americans and the British. |
D.Some differences between American English and British English. |