Module 1 Small Talk

本模块知识网络

高考词汇

lack   v.   缺乏，缺少

nod   v.   点头

yawn   v.   打呵欠

sigh   v.   叹气，叹息

tidy   v.   使……整洁，整理

tease   v.   戏弄，嘲弄，揶揄

contradict   v.   反驳

interrupt   v.   打断

violate   v.   骚扰，妨碍，侵犯

imagine   v.   想象

apologise   v.   道歉

prize   n.   奖品，奖金

application   n.   申请

form   n.   表格

immigration   n.   移民

visa   n.   签证

favour   n.   恩惠，照顾

reception   n.   欢迎会;招待会

embassy   n.   使馆

reply   n.   回答，答复，回信

saleswoman   n.   女推销员，女销售员

firm   n.   公司

fax   n.   传真（机）

motto   n.   座右铭，格言

shortcoming   n.   缺点，短处

absence   n.   缺乏，不存在

customer   n.   顾客，客户

typist   n.   打字员

apology   n.   道歉，致歉

acquaintance   n.   熟人

divorce   n.   离婚，离异

fool   n.   傻瓜，笨蛋

clerk   n.   职员，办事员

haircut   n.   发型，发式

brunch   n.   早午餐（早餐与午餐合并吃的一餐）

anniversary   n.   周年纪念日

hostess   n.   女主人

function   n.   功能

purpose   n.   目的

circumstance   n.   情形，情况

serious   adj.   严肃的

advance   adj.   预先的，在前的

outspoken   adj.   直言不諱的，坦率的，客气的

systematic   adj.   非偶然的，经常的

mature   adj.   成熟的

awkward    adj.   尴尬的

pregnant   adj.   怀孕的

cautious adj.   谨慎的，慎重的，小心的

messy   adj.   棘手的，难办的

modest   adj.   谦虚的，谦逊的

successful   adj.   成功的

anyhow   adv.   不管怎么说，无论如何

certain   pron.   某些

常用短语

small talk   闲谈，聊天

make friends   交朋友，建立友谊

（be） nervous about   对……神经紧张/害怕/胆怯/焦虑不安

think of   想起，回忆起

look away from   把目光从……移开

in addition   除此之外，另外

find out  了解（到）;找出（信息）

put ones foot in ones mouth   犯使人难堪的错误，说错话as a consequence   因此，结果

cheer sb up   使某人高兴/振作起来

leave out   省去，删去

（be） aware of   知道

take the lead   带头，领先

show off   炫耀

拓展词汇

psychologist   n.   心理学家

impolite   adj.   不礼貌的

factual   adj.   实际的，事实的，确实的

secretive   adj.   秘而不宣的，隐藏的

confidently   adv.   自信地

词汇短语园地

1. lack   v.   缺乏，缺少

n.   缺乏，匮乏，短缺

Hes good at his job but he seems to lack confidence.

他善于工作，但似乎缺乏信心。

There is a certain lack of enthusiasm for these changes among the membership.

会员对这些变动没有多大热情。

比较：lack和shortage的区别

lack指的是“完全没有或部分缺少”，既表示具体概念，也表示抽象含义，如缺少智力、知识、勇气等;shortage指的是“短缺”，多就量而言。

lack for nothing   什么也不缺

be lacking in   缺少（lacking是形容词）

for/through lack of   因缺少

no lack of   不缺少，足够

2. advance   adj.   预先的，在前的

No advance booking is necessary on most departures.

大多数起程票无须预订。

advance   n.   前进;进步，发展

（1） in advance   在前面;预先，事先

Its cheaper if you book the tickets in advance.

提前订票要便宜一些。

（2） in advance of   在（时间或空间）之前

People were evacuated from the coastal regions in advance of the hurricane.

飓风袭来之前，沿海地带的人已经撤离。

advance   v.   预付;提前，提早

advanced   adj.   先進的;高级的，高等的

3. favour   n.   恩惠，照顾

As a special favour， Ill let you stay up late tonight.

作为对你的特殊恩惠，我允许你今晚迟睡。

Do yourself a favour and wear a helmet on the bike.

要照顾好你自己，骑车时要戴上头盔。

do sb a favour = do a favour for sb   帮某人的忙

in favour of   赞同，支持;看中，选择

in ones favour   以……为受益人

ask a favour of sb   请某人帮忙

4. reply   n.   回答，答复，回信

v.   回答，答复;回应，做出反应

I asked her what her name was but she made no reply.

我问她叫什么名字，但她没有回答。

The senator replied that he was not in a position to comment.

参议员回答说他不宜发表评论。

in reply to   作为对……的答复

reply to   回答，答复

比较：动词reply和answer的区别

reply为正式用语，多指经过考虑的、有针对性的、详细的回答，常用作不及物动词，和介词to连用;answer为一般用语，既可用作及物动词，也可用作不及物动词，还可引申为“应答”。

5. absence   n.   缺乏，不存在

The case was dismissed in the absence of definite proof.

此案因缺乏确凿证据而不予受理。

in the absence of   缺少

absence of mind   心不在焉

in ones absence   某人不在期间

absent   adj.   缺席的，不在场的

be absent from   缺席

absent-minded   adj.   心不在焉的

6. interrupt   v.   打断，插嘴

They were interrupted by a knock at the door.

他们被敲门声打断了。

Would you mind not interrupting all the time？

请你别老是插嘴好吗？

interruption   n.   打扰，插嘴，打岔

He ignored her interruptions.

他没有理会她的打岔。

7. imagine   v.    想象

（1） imagine + n.   想象，設想

The house was just as she had imagined it.

这房子正是她所想象的。

（2） imagine + that从句   胡乱猜想……;认为……

Hes always imagining were talking about him behind his back.

他总是胡乱猜想我们在背后说他的闲话。

I dont imagine that theyll refuse.

我认为他们不会拒绝。

（3） imagine （sb） doing sth  想象（某人）做某事

Can you imagine George cooking the dinner？

你能想象乔治做饭吗？

imagination   n.   想象力，想象;幻想物;创造力

imaginative   adj.   富于想象力的;创新的

imaginable   adj.   想象得到的;可想象的

imaginary   adj.   想象中的;幻想的;虚构的

8. purpose   n.   目的，用途

Our campaigns main purpose is to raise money.

我们这次活动的主要目的就是筹款。

The two are not the same and dont serve the same purpose.

两者不是一回事，并且用途也不同。

on purpose   故意地

with/for the purpose of   为了……目的

to the purpose   中肯的（地），合适的（地）

9. apologise   v.   道歉

apology     n.   道歉;致歉

apologise for （doing） sth   为（做）某事而道歉

We apologise for the late departure of this flight.

本次航班延误离境，谨致歉意。

I apologised to her for stepping on her foot.

我因踩了她的脚而向她道歉。

Your allegations are completely untrue， and I demand an immediate apology.

你的说法完全不属实，我要求立即道歉。

10. think of   想起，回忆起

I cant think of her name at the moment.

我一时想不起她的名字。

think better of   对……有更高的评价

think little of   不重视;认为……没价值

think nothing of   把……视为平常;不把……当一回事;

觉得……无所谓

11. in addition   除此之外，另外

该短语为副词性短语，作状语，在句中位置灵活。在句中和句末时，一般用逗号隔开。

There is， in addition， one further point to make.

此外，还有一点要说。

In addition to English， he has to study a second foreign language.

除英语外，他还要学第二外语。

与in addition一样都表示“除……之外（还）”的其他单词或短语：besides，apart from，aside from。

12. find out   了解（到）;找出（信息）

We found out later that we had been at the same school.

后来我们才弄清楚我们是校友。

比较：find out，find和look for的区别

find out指通过观察、探索发现事实的真相，调查出原因或发现秘密、错误等;find多表示偶然性地找到;look for着重表示寻找的动作。

I havent found anything out about him yet.

我还没有发现有关他的任何情况。

Weve found a great new restaurant near the office.

我们在办公室附近发现了一家很棒的新餐馆。

Where have you been？ Weve been looking for you.

你上哪儿去了？我们一直在找你。

13. leave out  省去，删去;漏掉

I havent altered or left out anything.

我沒有更改或删去任何东西。

Youve made a mistake—youve left out the letter T.

你错了，你漏掉了字母T。

leave alone   不管;不理会;不打扰

leave behind   忘带;留下

14. （be） aware of   知道;意识到;明白

Were you aware of something was wrong？

你有没有意识到出问题了？

I dont think people are really aware of how much it costs.

我认为人们并不真正明白它得花多少钱。

as far as I am aware   就我所知

make sb aware of sth   让某人明白某事

15. take the lead   带头，领先

If we take the lead in this， others may follow.

如果我们在这方面带头行动，其他人就会跟着来。

Tom took the lead in the third lap.

汤姆在跑第三圈时领先。

be in the lead   领先

follow the lead of sb   以某人为榜样，效仿某人

give sb a lead   给某人做出榜样;提示某人

16. show off   炫耀

She wanted to show off her new husband at the party.

她想在聚会上炫耀自己的新婚丈夫。

show （sb） around/round   （领某人）参观

show up   如约赶到;出现;露面

show ones face   露面;公开见人

跟踪导练（一）

阅读理解

A

Lets provide you some cheap holiday tourist places.

San Jose， Costa Rica

Costa Rica is known as the paradise （天堂） of tourists. If you are crazy about adventure， Costa Rica shall offer you excellent chances for hiking and golfing in the blue sky. The countryside is a favorite place for mountain bikers. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is also a great attraction.

Aruba， Caribbean

Aruba is best enjoyed during winters. Its a very good place for friends， family and couples. You can enjoy the desert and sea together. Isnt it special？ The beaches of Aruba with blue water are the perfect places for diving. The natural pool and the natural bridge are wonderful.

Vancouver， British Columbia

Visiting the city in a double-decker bus is quite an enjoyable experience. And this is quite inexpensive. The tourist attractions are Richmond Island， Maritime Museum， Classical Chinese Garden， etc. The best time to go to Vancouver is the hot and rainy season just after spring. You shall get hotels at reasonable prices during this time.

Rio De Janeiro， Brazil

More than the beauty of the place， people like appreciating the tradition and culture of the natives. The city costs far more during carnival time. So， to get travel tickets and hotels at a reasonable price， you can plan during the off season. The famous beaches are Copacabana and Ipanema. You can also experience the scenic beauty of Guanabara Bay.

1. Which season is the best time to visit Vancouver？

A. Spring. B. Summer. C. Autumn. D. Winter.

2. Which place should Tom choose if he wants to enjoy himself in winters？

A. Rio De Janeiro. B. San Jose.

C. Vancouver. D. Aruba.

3. What is the authors purpose in writing the text？

A. To advertise some famous museums.

B. To share ideas about beautiful deserts.

C. To introduce some cheap attractions on vacation.

D. To show the traditions and cultures of different places.

B

My daughters are lovely and attractive. The 4-year-old has big blue eyes and easy laughter. The 7-year-olds long strawberry blond hair and sweet smile are already turning the boys heads. I love everything about these girls and they know it.

But I try not to tell them theyre beautiful. My young daughters are totally innocent about the pressures of being a woman in our society. They know nothing about plastic surgery （整形手術）， diets， “feeling fat”， or eating disorders. We adults know all too much about such things and in the face of this cruel reality， we tend to start telling our girls， as soon and often as possible， how beautiful they are. Heres the thing， though. What were also doing is bringing the beauty pressure home to our littlest girls. The more I talk about beauty and looks， even in a positive way， the more Im conveying （传达） the importance of those things.

However， it doesnt mean I dont praise my girls. Instead of saying “You look beautiful！” I might say the more specific “Dont you look fancy today！” or “Those colors go so well together.” It means that I treat my daughters not as my little dolls， but as real people who are developing their own sense of self and style. It means that they are in charge of how they look.

Naturally， I buy most of my girls clothes. But I dont usually manage their outfit choices. My daughters can go girly with necklaces and head-to-toe pink， or they can choose to give up dresses altogether. Of course weve seen some mismatching， but they own those styles. They never ask if they look pretty， and they walk with an easy confidence that has nothing to do with what I or anyone else will say about how they look. And thats the confident spirit I want them to take into their teens and adulthood.

4. What do the authors two daughters have in common？

A. Both like to smile.

B. Both have blond hair.

C. Both like strawberries.

D. Both have big blue eyes.

5. Why is the author unwilling to tell her girls that they are beautiful？

A. She prefers inside beauty.

B. She expects them to face reality.

C. She wants them to focus less on it.

D. She doesnt think they can understand it.

6. How does the author treat her daughters？

A. She is always praising them.

B. She is particular about their clothes.

C. She sets strict clothing rules for them.

D. She pays attention to their unique style.

7. What can best describe the authors daughters？

A. They are fully confident.

B. They are highly dependent.

C. They tend to take advice from their mother.

D. They have a good taste in dressing themselves.

C

When someone is rude to you， it can put you in a bad mood. It may even lead you to be rude to someone else， creating a chain of rudeness. In fact， this troubling chain may even be caused by simply seeing someone be rude to another person. You dont even have to be the target of the bad behavior， ” stated a researcher.

The researchers worked with 81 persons， with occupations ranging from security to business to medicine， who were asked to complete online surveys over a 10-day period. Participants recorded their moods when they woke up; and in the evening， they described their experiences over the course of that day.

Each morning the participants also viewed a short video， describing workplace interaction （互动） of some kind. Half of the mornings， the video included some kind of rudeness while the other half had some kind of warm interaction in the workplace. Rudeness was conveyed through various means， including a lack of eye contact or unpleasant language.

Participants who watched the rudeness videos reported seeing or experiencing rudeness during the day， and they were also more likely to escape from fellow employees to avoid being the victims of rudeness themselves. They reported their overall （总体的） work suffered that day as a result.

Not all participants were affected by the rudeness videos， however. A few weeks before the study began， the participants completed an evaluation that measured their self-confidence and emotional stability among other things. The participants who scored higher on this evaluation were significantly less likely to be influenced by the rudeness.

Consequently， one of the researchers recommended that companies hire managers who can limit exposure to rudeness， provide plenty of positive reinforcement （強化） and build a civil workplace environment. This， in turn， could help employees build their confidence levels and help them better handle workplace rudeness.

8. What is Paragraph 1 intended to tell us？

A. The great harm of rudeness.

B. Different kinds of rudeness.

C. A regular cause of rudeness.

D. A new finding about rudeness.

9. Why do the researchers play short videos for the participants？

A. To make them spread rudeness.

B. To educate them on workplace interaction.

C. To expose them to various aspects of rudeness.

D. To teach them how to use right body languages.

10. What is the probable effect of watching the videos on some participants？

A. Being unwilling to work.

B. Poor ability to do their work.

C. Serious emotional sufferings.

D. Less interaction with others.

11. Who may not be affected by the rudeness videos？

A. People positive and kind to themselves.

B. People keeping calm in stressful situations.

C. People owning confidence in others ability.

D. People participating in the rudeness experiment.

D

In this fast-shifting world， there can be no guarantees attached to any particular job. But there is much that you can do to protect yourself from the change of society， by equipping yourself with the skills to manage your career more effectively. You need to be a career activist.

If you lost your main source of income tomorrow， could you find a different source to replace it？ The most important thing in protecting yourself now and in the future is ensuring that you have choices. Dont let yourself be held back by a lack of skill development， or fear of change. Some people have been good performers in their own organization but discovered that they are stuck. Because they are so closely related to a particular company or industry， their skills are not readily transferred to other jobs.

Dont put all your eggs in one basket. If you limit yourself to one particular area or sector， you limit your opportunity， too. In a global market place， many jobs come and go quickly as changes in the stock market. Todays hottest job may not exist tomorrow. If you love computers， then this work represents a great choice. But dont enter a field just because you think thats where the hot jobs are; even if the job is available， it may not match well with your own skills and abilities. Start with an entry of your own strengths and interests， then see where you may match up best in the job market.

12. How can one be sure to have a new chance when he loses the main source of income？

A. By entering a field where the hot jobs are.

B. By transfering to jobs that involve computers.

C. By trying to develop skills and be a career activist.

D. By being a good performer in his own organization.

13. Why are some people afraid of change of jobs？

A. They have got a hot job.

B. They have no other better choices.

C. They have got used to a certain job.

D. They have no other skills and interests.

14. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Keep the eggs safely.

B. Stick to only one particular job.

C. Try your best to do the job well.

D. Catch the opportunity to find more jobs.

15. According to the author， the best job to choose is something that .

A. is both hot and interesting

B. will always exist in the future

C. brings you good source of income

D. involves your strengths and interests

Like many people， the start of the day maybe isnt your favorite time. 1Try at least one of these tomorrow.

Stretch （伸展） every part of your body for 15 seconds.

Try this before you open your eyes. Lift your arm and begin by stretching each finger， then your hand， then your wrist， then your arm. 2Then your toes， feet， ankles and legs. In this way， you upped the flow of blood through your body， providing extra oxygen to all your tissues.

3

In this way， you dont have to jump out of bed and rush through your morning. You can begin your day by lying in bed， slowly waking up， mentally ticking off the decisions you made in advance about what youre going to wear， what youre going to do...

Brush your tongue for 2—3 minutes.

Theres no better way to rid you of morning breath and begin your day fresh and clean. After all， more than 300 types of bacteria stay in your mouth every night. 4

Avoid any decisions.

For truly relaxing mornings， reduce the number of choices and decisions you make to zero. 5Really， theres no need to vary your breakfast， timetable or clothes to wear every morning.

A. Repeat with the other arm.

B. You can change your living habits.

C. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier.

D. Make your decisions the night before.

E. These few minutes in bed are all yours.

F. Quick brush cant make them all disappear.

G. Here are some healthy habits you can learn without much effort.

1.                 2.                 3.                 4.                 5.

As I was getting in my car today after picking up more school supplies （儲备） in preparation of my 24th year as a teacher， I saw a homeless man from a distance with a blanket （毯子） covering him， walking along the sidewalk. Immediately I1that he was barefoot and walked2 . I wanted to3him some shoes from a store nearby， but there were no shoe4around.

I was on a tight schedule having to5my wife up from the doctors office soon for a medical6 . I was not going to buy7and return in such a short time. Then I8I had socks in my last bag， the bag I keep in my9for those in need. I grabbed the10and walked up to him.

“Hey， Brother，” I11to him. “I am sorry. I dont have any shoes for you， but could you12these socks？” He turned to me and13 . “That would be great.” He said “God bless you！” as I14him the socks. I wished him the best and got back into my car.

I15that the rest of the16of the bag might be of use as well; a bottle of water， jerky， sunflower seeds， etc. I17alongside the sidewalk. Cars were18behind me. I called to the man， “I got these cars behind me. Are you good if I just19the bag on the sidewalk？” He nodded. “Take care，” I yelled （大喊）. As he pulled on the last sock， the man20to me “I love you！”

1. A. concluded B. noticed C. imagined D. decided

2. A. purposely B. delighted C. elegantly D. cautiously

3. A. buy B. make C. sell D. donate

4. A. factories B. offices C. companies D. shops

5. A. pick B. take C. wake D. put

6. A. achievement B. argument C. examination D. discovery

7. A. clothes B. shoes C. hats D. gloves

8. A. complained B. covered C. remembered D. doubted

9. A. car B. garden C. classroom D. house

10. A. glasses B. socks C. trousers D. pants

11. A. apologized B. pointed C. called D. switched

12. A. study B. observe C. learn D. use

13. A. refused B. smiled C. approved D. disagreed

14. A. promised B. showed C. handed D. threw

15. A. realized B. informed C. admitted D. permitted

16. A. surroundings B. coverings C. contents D. containers

17. A. pushed B. jogged C. wandered D. pulled

18. A. lining up B. holding on C. making up D. taking over

19. A. exchange B. leave C. fetch D. expose

20. A. talked B. said C. yelled D. sang

下列各句均有1个错误，请改正。

1. Dont look away over me when I am speaking to you！ ____

2. Read this passage， and find the answer of the question. ____

3. We arent short of money， but we lack of time. ____

4. Looking at the old photo， he thought over his happy childhood.

____

5. In common to many young people， he prefers pop music to classical music. ____

1﹒在异国他乡参加社交活动时，你会紧张吗？（be nervous about）

2﹒闲聊很重要，它可以帮助你为更严肃的话题做准备。（prepare sb for）

3﹒你是否曾经故意过马路以避免和你认识的人说话？（on purpose）

4﹒交流是一个涉及听和说的双向过程。（involve）

5﹒當地人对来自世界各地的游客都十分热情友好。（from all over the world）

跟踪导练（二）

A

Do you feel bored during your holidays？ Here are some books for the stay-at-home who are fond of reading to pass time during their holidays.

A License to Heal （By Steven Bentley， www. iuniverse.com， $11. 95 sc， $ 3. 99 eb）

In the world of emergency medicine， there is pain， blood and tragedy， but there is also hope and compassion. The book shows readers the stories from an ER doctor that brings this dynamic （动态的） world to life. In this highly personal narrative， an emergency room physician describes the world of the ER as one filled with pain， fear and grief， but also compassion （同情）， hope， and a surprising amount of humor.

Imperfect Family （By Leyland A. King， www. xlibris. com， $ 19. 99 sc， $3. 99 eb）

This book is a novel showcasing an ordinary familys union， strength， ambition and determination that made it possible for one generation to climb the slippery and shabby ladder from poverty to the security of American middle-class.

Walking the Stones of Time （By Oswald Brown， www.xtibris. com， $ 18. 99 sc， $3. 99 eb）

It is an extraordinary love story of an awkward young man and an equally awkward young woman who， despite their lack of social skills， developed a love that was stronger than all their inadequacies （不足）.

Honeyball （By Pete Liebengood， www.xlibris.com， $19. 99 sc， $3. 99 eb）

A group of women pull together in a dedicated （專门的） campaign to find success at the box office while their leader finds the love of her life and the persons responsible for the death of her father in a plane Crash.

Batting Rocks over the Barn （By Lawn Griffiths， www.xlibris.com， $ 19. 99 sc， $ 3. 99 eb.）

The rhythm of rural life during the 1950s and 1960s comes alive through the eyes of a boy who grew up to become a newspaper journalist and film editor. Follow his journey in this book.

1. What can we learn about Steven Bentleys book？

A. It is a tragedy.

B. It is the most expensive.

C. It is written in a narrative way.

D. It is a humorous story about a doctor.

2. Who writes about country life？

A. Leyland A. King. B. Lawn Griffiths.

C. Steven Bentley. D. Oswald Brown.

3. Which books contain a love story？

A. Imperfect Family and Honeyball.

B. A License to Heal and Imperfect Family.

C. Walking the Stones of Time and Honeyball.

D. Walking the Stones of Time and Batting Rocks over the Barn.

B

Everybody， at some point in their lives， has experienced failure. It could be something as simple as not getting the job you wanted， or getting fewer marks even after hard work. But what makes you is not your failure， but how you get back up after being hit.

Once， a young school boy was caught in a fire accident in his school and was assumed that would not live. His mother was told that he was sure to die， for the terrible fire had destroyed the lower half of his body. Even if he were to survive， he would be lame （瘸的） throughout his life.

But the brave boy not want to die nor did he want to be lame. Much to the amazement of the doctor， he did survive. But unfortunately from his waist down， he had no motor ability. However， his determination to walk was unshakable. When he was not in bed， he had to stay in wheelchair. One day， he reached the fence， raised himself up and then began dragging himself along the fence， firmly determined. He did this every day， with faith that he would be able to walk unaided. With his iron determination， he did develop the ability to stand up， then to walk on and off， then to walk by himself and then to run.

He began to walk to school， and then run to school. Later in college he was on the track team.

In February 1934， in New York Citys Madison Square Garden， this young man who was not expected to survive， who would surely never walk， Dr Glenn Cunningham， ran the worlds fastest mile.

A good example of the power of positive thinking and faith in ones self， Glenn Cunningham continues to be an inspiration for many， and his story， a brilliant evidence to how one can bounce back even when all difficulties are piled （堆）against one， to the degree that death seemed the preferable option.

4. What is the main purpose of Paragraph 1？

A. To make preparations for statement.

B. To function as a brief introduction.

C. To arouse readers interest.

D. To present an argument.

5. What was the doctors opinion about Glenn？

A. Great determination could make a difference to him.

B. There was a slim chance for him to survive.

C. He was able to walk with effort.

D. He could live a normal life later.

6. What can we learn about Glenn from the text？

A. He won the first place in hospital.

B. He organized a track team in college.

C. He took recovery exercise in hospital.

D. He inspired people with his moving story.

7. What can be a suitable title for the text？

A. Go After Dreams

B. Deal with Difficulties

C. Stand Up After Failure

D. Strengthen Determination

C

Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words， because they convey （傳达） regret， lost opportunities， mistakes， and disappointment.

My father is famous in our family for saying， “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents， I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment， whether it was something minor （较小的） like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter， or something that required a little more work， such as taping padding （衬垫） onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.

I dont only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. Its equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you”. When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday， I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldnt be here. But then I thought about the fact that hes 84 years old and I realized that I shouldnt give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.

I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something， but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality. And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right， I know that Im doing the right thing.

8. Which of the following can be an example of the “extra minute” rule？

A. Start the car the moment everyone is seated.

B. Leave the room for a minute with the typing.

C. Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better.

D. Move an object out of the way before it trips someone.

9. What does the underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Abandoned. B. Lacked.

C. Avoided. D. Wasted.

10. The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to .

A. keep her appointment with the eye doctor

B. meet her father who was already an old man

C. join in the holiday celebration of the company

D. finish her work before the deadline approached

11. What does the author mainly want to tell us？

A. We should take the extra minute to do things right.

B. We should do everthing possible in our life.

C. Its important to avoid “if only” moments.

D. “If only” is the saddest words in English.

D

Pigs are always considered dirty animals because they roll in mud. But in fact they prefer being quite clean. They cover themselves with mud to help stay cool. During cooler weather， they prefer to stay clean. So do elephants， who also cover themselves in dust or mud to keep cool. When they find a place with clean water they will take a bath， using their long noses to give themselves—or each other—a nice shower.

Some animals use dust to get clean. Chinchillas （南美洲栗鼠） have very fine fur. They dont like to take water baths because water is not warm enough for them. So， instead， they roll around in fine dust. The dust helps to keep their fur and skin dry. This protects them from disease.

Usually， a small bird is a light meal for a crocodile. But when a crocodile wants its teeth cleaned， it lies on the ground with its mouth open. The crocodile bird goes in and picks out any parasites （寄生蟲） between the crocodiles teeth or under its tongue. The crocodile gets its mouth cleaned， and the crocodile bird gets dinner.

You wouldnt think fish would need baths. But some undersea parasites live under the fishs skin. “Cleaner” fish， like the wrasse （隆头鱼）， help take them away. The wrasse stands on its head and dances to signal a big fish that it is ready to go into the cleaning business. The big fish will stop moving and open its mouth wide so the wrasse can swim inside and pick out parasites and bits of food.

12. What can we learn about pigs from Paragraph 1？

A. They like to stay cool and clean.

B. They can help each other take baths.

C. They are dirtier during cooler weather.

D. They prefer taking baths to rolling in mud.

13. Why do chinchillas like to roll around in fine dust？

A. It makes them warm.

B. It keeps them healthy.

C. It is a cure for illness.

D. It is a way to play.

14. What can we infer from the last paragraph about the wrasse？

A. It likes being under other fishs skin.

B. It is often eaten by other fish.

C. It is relatively small.

D. It likes taking baths.

15. The text is mainly about how animals .

A. help each other B. get their food

C. take baths D. stay clean

The biggest turning point in my life so far was the day I left home to go to college. Before the age of eighteen， I had never been away from my parents for more than two weeks so I1my new independence with a mixture of2and excitement.

When the day to pack my things came， I began to3if I had made the right decision. I tried to4myself with the thought that I was moving on to a5life but there was still a doubt in the back of my mind. Deep in my thoughts was that I was6all my friends behind， so it was with7that I made my way to the train station.

By the time I8at my destination， I believed I had made a terrible mistake. I was sad，9and more terrified than I had ever been in my life.10 ， once I had been shown to my room and had11some of the other students， I began to12a lot more positive. Within a few days， I was more13in my new surroundings and all my doubts and fears14 . There were so many new things to15and people to meet that I was too busy to be upset.

One of the main reasons why this was such an important change for me was that my life was taking a completely new 16 . Though there were some problems with17 myself such as washing clothes， buying food， etc.， I soon realized that I could18it well.

People have to move on and there are always19in our lives. Perhaps one of the lessons we should learn is how to   20those that are new to us into our best advantages.

1. A. wanted B. answer C. respected D. viewed

2. A. anger B. worry C. joy D. difficulty

3. A. wonder B. judge C. care D. check

4. A. persuade B. treat C. compare D. comfort

5. A. richer B. better C. healthier D. busier

6. A. forgetting B. putting C. leaving D. dropping

7. A. happiness B. surprise C. sadness D. confidence

8. A. arrived B. aimed C. stayed D. looked

9. A. crazy B. lonely C. hungry D. tired

10. A. Therefore B. However C. Though D. Instead

11. A. asked B. visited C. invited D. met

12. A. feel B. keep C. prove D. seem

13. A. realistic B. useful C. comfortable D. grateful

14. A. rose B. hid C. developed D. disappeared

15. A. experience B. collect C. introduce D. imagine

16. A. position B. situation C. direction D. definition

17. A. looking after B. believing in

C. showing off D. talking about

18. A. know B. manage C. prepare D. arrange

19. A. choices B. hopes C. dreams D. changes

20. A. advance B. drive C. turn D. lead

One day， Nick invited his friends to supper. He was cooking some delicious food in the kitchen. Suddenly， he1（find） that he had run out of salt. So Nick called to his son， “Go to the village and buy some salt， but pay a fair price for it： neither too much2too little.”

His son looked3（surprise）， “I can understand why I shouldnt pay too much， Dad， but if I can pay less， why not save a bit of money？”

“That would be a very4（reason） thing to do in a big city， but it could destroy a small village like5（we），” Nick said.

Nicks guests，6had heard their conversation， asked why they should not buy salt more cheaply if they could. Nick replied， “The only reason a man would sell salt7a lower price would be that he was desperate for money. And anyone who took advantage of that situation would be showing a lack of respect for the sweat and struggle of the man who worked very hard8（produce） it.”

“But such a small thing couldnt9（possible） destroy a village.”

“In the beginning， there was only a very small amount of unfairness in the world， but everyone added a little， always

10（think） that it was only small and not very important， and look where we have ended up today.”

1.                      2.                      3.                      4.

5.                      6.                      7.                      8.

9.                      10.

During the weekend I traveled by the air for the first time in my life. I usually travel by train or bus. Its both cheaper and safe. But to fly in the sky were something new to me. At the start I felt a little nervously. But very soon I became exciting when I found me high up in the sky among the clouds. I also found that mountains， fields， river and so on were interestingly small. I enjoy the frightening and comfortable journey very much. After all， it is more interesting take a plane than to take a car.

用方框里单词的正确形式填空，使其句意完整。

advance certain favour lack nod

prize reply serious sigh tidy

1. The joke is not proper when we are discussing such a ____ problem.

2. Mary used her good looks to make up her ____ of intelligence.

3. We need ____ preparation for the important meeting.

4. I asked him if he would help me and he ____ .

5. She ____ deeply at the thought of her sons failure in the College Entrance Examination.

6. The medalists are presented with a golden medal together with a ____ of 15，000 Canadian dollars.

7. She washed her face， ____ her hair and went down to tea.

8. They didnt receive any special ____ from the state.

9. ____ of those present were unwilling to discuss the matter further.

10. Please phone your ____ to me—a letter would take too long to arrive.

1﹒我想請你帮个忙，把自行车借给我好吗？（favour）

2﹒难怪我打不通电话，我漏掉了电话号码中的两个数字。

（leave out）

3﹒我已经有那本书了，你没必要再给我带一本来的。

（neednt have done）

4﹒作为公司的负责人，她主动带头执行这项任务。

（take the lead）

5﹒他转过脸去不看别人，而那些人随即谈起他们自己的事情。（look away from）

跟踪导练（三）

A

No matter what your age or style is， MNA （Museum of Northern Arizona） Education Programs have a program to fit your desires. Stay close to home and enjoy the following：

MNA Ventures （冒险）

The MNA Ventures program offers opportunities to discover and explore the Colorado Plateau—130，000 square miles of mountains and canyons （峡谷） centered in the Four Corners Area of Arizona， Utah， Colorado， and New Mexico.

Discovery Programs

The Discovery Programs offer educational experiences that emphasize the artistic traditions， natural sciences， Native American culture， and history of the Colorado Plateau. A variety of program choices provide fun learning opportunities for students of all ages and interests. Programs range in length from half-day classes to week-long classes， and offer experiences for three-year-olds to adults. Discovery classes take place mainly in the Museum grounds but may include field trips to go with the experience.

Custom Tours

The Custom Tours offer opportunities to discover and explore the wonders of the Colorado Plateau. Experience the rich natural wonders and cultures of this area through experts eyes by traveling with scientists， writers， artists， and professional guides.

Group Exhibit Tours

There are self-guided programs for the archaeology （考古） of the Colorado Plateau， Native American culture， and the geology and biology of the Colorado Plateau.

1. What do we know about the Colorado Plateau？

A. It is an area without much culture.

B. It is mainly made up of grasslands.

C. It ranges over at least four states.

D. It has a history of 130，000 years.

2. What is TRUE about Discovery Programs？

A. There are classes at varying times.

B. They are intended for art students.

C. They are mainly for teenage students.

D. Their activities are held in the museum.

3. If you want to be guided by experts， you should attend .

A. Group Exhibit Tours B. MNA Ventures

C. Discovery Programs D. Custom Tours

B

When my now 19-year-old daughter Shanna was in Grade 3， all of Mrs Mathews students were given a small pot with a bean seed to plant. Green string beans are pretty strong and the perfect seed to use to make young children grow plants.

Once the bean plants had flowered， their teacher allowed the kids to carefully transport it from school to home. Once home， Shanna settled it on a sunny south window sill.

Shannas sisters were jealous and even our cat looked interested which should have been a warning to me because when I woke up the next morning， I saw that the bean plant had been unkindly knocked off the window sill. The plant， it seemed， was a goner.

As I gently began to explain that the bean plant had to be put in the compost （混合肥料）， her reaction was not what I expected. She got the first aid kit from the bathroom and there was a deep belief on her face that the sad-looking， near?-dead bean plant would live， thrive and even produce food！

Days later， to my surprise， the bean plant was standing tall and looking lively. It was also amazing to see that the one and only bean， had become fleshy almost completely masking the claw marks that had scarred it. This time we built a castle of heavy books to keep it safe until our day of reward.

In my work as a youth motivator， I am brought together with kids and teens that all desperately need people to believe in them. Now， more than ever， no matter what I have been told about a child or a teen and their behavior， I see everyone， no exceptions， with the same eyes and heart that my daughter used on her broken， beaten up bean plant.

4. Why does Mrs Mathew make her students plant beans？

A. To produce healthy food.

B. To learn about farm work.

C. To research the bean structure.

D. To develop their ability of growing plants.

5. What can we infer from Paragraph 3？

A. The cat might have done harm to the bean plant.

B. The bean plant might die for lack of sunlight.

C. The plant might fall off the window sill.

D. Others might be jealous of Shanna.

6. What was the author surprised at？

A. The plant bore many beans.

B. The plant recovered from its damage.

C. The cat left some claw marks on the plant.

D. Shanna knew how to save a broken bean plant.

7. What lesson did the author learn from her daughter？

A. A child grows like a bean plant.

B. A child is easy to believe in others.

C. A child needs to be well taken care of.

D. A child with bad behavior can become good.

C

Attitudes toward new technologies often fall along generational lines. That is， generally， younger people tend to outnumber older people on the front end of a technological shift.

It is not always the case， though. When you look at attitudes toward driverless cars， there doesnt seem to be a clear generational divide. The public overall is split on whether theyd like to use a driverless car. In a study last year， of all people surveyed， 48 percent said they wanted to ride in one， while 50 percent did not.

The fact that attitudes toward self-driving cars appear to be so steady across generations suggests how transformative the shift to driverless cars could be. Not everyone wants a driverless car now and no one can get one yet but among those who are open to them， every age group is similarly engaged.

Actually， this isnt surprising. Whereas older generations are sometime reluctant （不情愿的） to adopt new technologies， driverless cars promise real value to these age groups in particular. Older adults， especially those with limited mobility or difficulty driving on their own， are one of the classic use-cases for driverless cars.

This is especially interesting when you consider that younger people are generally more interested in travel-related technologies than older ones.

When it comes to driverless cars， differences in attitude are more pronounced based on factors not related to age. College graduates， for example， are particularly interested in driverless cars compared with those who have less education， 59 percent of college graduates said they would like to use a driverless car compared with 38 percent of those with a high-school diploma or less.

Where a person lives matters， too. More people who lives in cities and suburbs said they wanted to try driverless cars than those who lived in rural areas.

While theres a reason to believe that interest in self-driving cars is going up across the board， a persons age will have little to do with how self-driving cars can be becoming mainstream. Once driverless cars are actually available for safe， the early adopters will be the people who can afford to buy them.

8. The text tells us a new technology .

A. leads to innovations in other fields

B. widens the gap between the old and the young

C. contributes to the advance of society as a whole

D. usually draws different reactions from different age groups

9. What does the author say about the driverless car？

A. It does not seem to create a generational divide.

B. It will not necessarily reduce road accidents.

C. It may start a revolution in the car industry.

D. It has given rise to unrealistic expectations.

10. Why does the driverless car appeal to some old people？

A. It saves their energy.

B. It helps with their mobility.

C. It arouses their interest in life.

D. It adds to the safety of their travel.

11. What is likely to affect ones attitude toward the driverless car？

A. The location of their residence.

B. The field of their special interest.

C. The amount of training they received.

D. The length of their driving experience.

D

Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is， we can try to do it ourselves.

How is it done？ Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow these skills， theyll help you put people at their ease， and make friends with them quickly.

First of all， good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone， no matter how shy he or she is， will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says， “At business lunches， I always ask people what they did that morning. Its a common question， but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

Second， once good talkers have asked questions， they listen to the answers. This point seems clear， but it isnt. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what kind of person you are talking to. And to find out， you really have to listen carefully.

Real listening at least means some things. First， it means not changing the subject of a conversation. If someone sticks to one topic， you can take it as a fact that hes really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words， but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull， then， its time for you to change the subject.

Finally， good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If youre saying goodbye， you may give him a firm handshake and say， “Ive really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again， dont keep it secret. Let people know what you feel， and after that they may feel as if theyve known you half their life.

12. Asking questions can be a good way .

A. to begin business talks B. to make new friends

C. to start a conversation D. to get to know others

13. What will be polite after asking somebody a question？

A. To make sure he will reply.

B. To listen to his reply attentively.

C. To turn back to your own business.

D. To go on asking him more questions.

14. Generally speaking， good talkers are persons who .

A. always speak in a gentle way

B. talk neither too much nor too little

C. are good at making topic important

D. know how and when they should change the topic

15. What can you do when parting someone if you want to meet him again？

A. Let him know it.

B. Give him a second handshake.

C. Have further understanding of him.

D. Take him as your lifelong trustworthy friend.

I landed at the Toronto airport a day late. To my1 ， the rental car service I found on the Internet was2 ！ With the help of other travelers and airport workers who clearly3the “lost puppy” look on my face， I found the area with several rental car companies. I started at the end of the4and walked my way down as each employee said “sorry， we are5 ”. All I could do was to fight back the6 . The lovely young woman at the last counter，7 ， really took pity on me and went around to the back office and8with a set of car keys and a smile！

Things got tricky on the way. The GPS on my phone would not9 ， and there was no highway lighting and no overhead10for miles and miles. Finally， I found an exit and saw the first signs of11 —a neighborhood！ Just about a mile down the road， I found12 —McDonalds！ Not my usual dining option （選择）， but at the time I would have eaten13 ！ So， its about 8：30 pm and I should have happily arrived at my final destination by now. I walk in to get food and more directions; and its full of teenagers.

Ironically （諷刺地是）， I am a Life Coach for Teenagers， but wasnt “feeling the love” at this moment. My hopes for anyone taking sympathy （同情） on me was14fast， until I saw Mary. She was standing next to me waiting for her15 . I asked for help. “Dont worry. Ill drive you to the16that will take you to your destination. Just follow me！” she said. I felt17in my heart because she drove18her way for many miles to help me find my way.

I will never forget her19and determination to make sure I was going to be OK. My forever McDonalds20 ， Mary.

1. A. pleasure B. excitement C. surprise D. sorrow

2. A. extended B. closed C. improved D. guaranteed

3. A. exchanged B. liked C. shared D. recognized

4. A. row B. room C. office D. airport

5. A. given out B. sent out C. sold out D. left out

6. A. tears B. fear C. trouble D. campaign

7. A. therefore B. however C. thus D. besides

8. A. recalled B. interrupted C. replaced D. returned

9. A. focus B. stop C. work D. fail

10. A. signs B. lights C. wires D. clouds

11. A. friendship B. life C. home D. nature

12. A. direction B. area C. hope D. experience

13. A. some B. that C. nothing D. anything

14. A. lacking B. rising C. growing D. fading

15. A. table B. order C. turn D. offer

16. A. highway B. subway C. station D. company

17. A. comfort B. pain C. warmth D. cold

18. A. beyond B. via C. off D. on

19. A. motivation B. kindness

C. patience D. importance

20. A. restaurant B. food C. figure D. angel

Talking is the most effective and satisfying way of communicating with others. There are many forms of communication，1include texting， cell phones， emails， and social media.2（use） these alternative forms to communicate with others may be faster，3they lack many qualities that a face-to-face conversation4（own）.

Facial expression and body language can5（great） affect a conversation. They can be used to give a person some information about what the other person is thinking and6     （feel）. Facial expression can7（apply） to video chatting， but body language can only be found in a face-to-face conversation. Talking in person can have physical8（feature）， for example， give someone a hug and hold their hand9（comfort） them. When you are talking to someone by texting or messaging them， physical touch does not exist at all， and it can limit the connection10the people in the communication.

1.                      2.                      3.                      4.

5.                      6.                      7.                      8.

9.                      10.

用方框里单词的正确形式填空，使其句意完整。

anyhow awkward cautious customer divorce

function imagine interrupt purpose success

1. The store has more ____ than it can take care of.

2. Humor is the wisdom and resourcefulness that can ease up a（n） ____ situation.

3. New investors also need to be ____ in choosing suitable investment products.

4. Penny got ____ and rushed into another marriage.

5. It may rain， but ____ I shall go out; I dont mind the rain.

6. The two students stopped talking to each other because their conversation ____ by the ringing of the telephone.

7. The ____ of the heart is to send blood around the body.

8. A ____ company must keep up with the pace of technological change.

9. We never ____ that men would land on the moon.

10. A special class meeting was held for the ____ of exchanging our studying methods.

下列各句均有1个错误，请改正。

1. How can they finish this difficult work on the absence of other helpers？ ____

2. They know me well because Im one of their regular customer.

____

3. Presently she becomes aware with footsteps after her because it is not safe any more here. ____

4. Of course， he neednt to violate your professional knowledge.

____

5. No matter how you read it， his sentence just doesnt make sense—the most important words have left out. ____

1﹒我們足球队获胜的喜讯让每一个听到的人都很高兴。

（cheer up）

2﹒一有人走进屋子，孩子们就开始炫耀起来。（show off）

3﹒Jerry经常学习到深夜，所以他在本次考试中获得了年级第一名。（as a consequence）

4﹒Emily在考试中得了最高分，但她很谦虚，没有告诉任何人。（so... that...）

5﹒另外，学生可以选修文字处理和计算课程。（in addition）

跟踪导练（四）

A

In most English-speaking countries， it is necessary and of great value to make small talk in certain situations. There are a few different reasons why people use small talk. The first， and most obvious， is to break an uncomfortable silence. You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party， but if someone introduces you to another person who you do not know anything about， you have to start some small talk in order to show a polite interest in getting to know that person better.

There are certain “safe” topics that people usually make small talk about. The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other will discuss. Sometimes even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or commence （開始） a conversation. Another topic is current events. Sports news is a very common topic， especially if a local team or player is doing extremely well or badly. Entertainment news， such as a celebrity who is in town， is another good topic. If there is something that you and the other speakers have in common， that may also be acceptable to talk about.

There are also some subjects that are not considered acceptable when you make small talk. Discussing personal information such as salaries or a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well. Compliments （赞美） on clothing or hair are acceptable; however， you should never say anything （good or bad） about a persons body. Also， it is not safe to discuss subjects that society thinks controversial （有争议的） such as religion or politics. Last， it is not wise to continue talking about an issue that the other person does not seem comfortable with or interested in.

1. What does the author think of small talk in certain situations according to Paragraph 1？

A. Boring. B. Meaningless.

C. Hard. D. Important.

2. What is regarded as a “safe” topic during a small talk？

A. Age. B. Sports news.

C. Salary. D. Personality.

3. If you are introduced to a stranger， you can start small talk by ___ .

A. commenting on his health

B. discussing religion or politics

C. complimenting him on his clothes

D. talking about some personal information

B

The town Im staying in is pretty small and there isnt much to do except hike. Its a little cold now for hiking but my boyfriend， Jack， who is an expert in survival techniques， taught me a few basic tricks.

On a sunny day， we decided to go hiking. Im a huge fan of tea， but Ive never actually seen it done or learned to do it. So today was the day！ We searched for a pine tree and used a knife to cut off a small part of the tree; we boiled some water with the pine needles. I made Jack try it first and he claimed to like it， so I tried it... but I think Ill stick to fruit and nut teas.

A few days later we went for a hike in a really nice place nearby. We came to a bridge which was over a mostly dried?-out river with some water still flowing through. I love climbing over rocks！ We went down quite a long way till we came to a large rock and sat down to enjoy the landscape for a while.Then it was near sunset and we decided to go back.

We made a wrong turn in the way. It soon became obvious that we were in a race with the sun. We hoped that we could find a new way. It was getting darker and darker as we pushed through some bushes to try to get back. The trees and bushes were so thick that we had to find a different way to go forward.

Eventually we heard cars on the road and followed the sound until we went back to a main road. The sound really acted as our guide.

4. What can we know about the author？

A. She is good at survival techniques.

B. She loves to climb over rocks at sunset.

C. She likes hiking more than other sports.

D. She doesnt like the tea made from pine trees.

5. The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 means the author could ___ .

A. enjoy tea B. make tea herself

C. drink different tea D. go hiking with Jack

6. On their way back home the author and her boyfriend ___ .

A. got a ride before dark

B. lost hope of getting out

C. took the wrong direction

D. cut the bushes to find the way

7. How did the author get out of the woods？

A. With the help of other drivers.

B. By following the sound of cars.

C. With the guides leading the way.

D. By going in the direction of the sun.

C

I love our kitchen. Its one of the most used parts of our home. About 9 years ago we updated our kitchen and got all new collections. At the time I didnt really do a lot of research on the functions of the equipment and I really wish I had. There were so many different choices on the market and I ended up buying some that I didnt really like all that much and now that its time to update them again， Ill be more careful with the ones I choose.

Ive had my eye on KitchenAid for a while， especially the new KitchenAid equipment at Best Buy. The new KitchenAid equipment at Best Buy has a cook-like quality without the premium price that you might expect to pay， so it wont cost you a fortune. The equipment has a professionally inspired design that is a perfect balance of good taste and functionality.

With the new KitchenAid equipment you will find cooking more optional and flexible， which contributes to your amazing performance while preparing a meal. Its five-door fridge offers organized storage and easier access to food.

I love these new collections and I cant think of a better time to update your kitchen than right now， because when you buy now at Best Buy you will get 18 months financing or 5% rewards on major equipment and free delivery on purchases over $399. To learn more about how to transform your kitchen with the new KitchenAid collections， be sure to visit BestBuy.com.

8. How did the author feel after updating the kitchen 9 years ago？

A. Convenient. B. Worthwhile.

C. Regretful. D. Awkward.

9. What does the underlined word “premium” in Paragraph 2 mean？

A. Favorable. B. Reasonable.

C. High. D. Special.

10. Why is the author most impressed by the products of KitchenAid equipment？

A. Among them is a five-door fridge.

B. They make cooking easy.

C. They can save electricity.

D. The price is very low.

11. What is the purpose of this text？

A. To recommend some kitchen equipment.

B. To compare prices of some goods.

C. To introduce a website.

D. To describe a fridge.

D

Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For example， in American culture， the smile is in general an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other uses. A womans smile at a police officer does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show love or politeness. It can also hide true feelings. It often causes confusion across cultures. For example， many people in Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even improper. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places （although this is less common in big cities）. Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians dont smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures， a smile is frequently used to cover painful feelings. Vietnamese people may tell a sad story but end the story with a smile.

Our faces show emotions， but we should not attempt to “read” people from another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as members of another do does not mean that they do not experience emotions. Rather， there are cultural differences in the amount of facial expressiveness permitted. For example， in public and in formal situations， many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. When with friends， Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly.

It is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial expressiveness because of personal and cultural differences in the United States. People from certain cultural backgrounds in the United States seem to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our own cultural habits， we may make the mistake of “reading” the other person incorrectly.

12. What does the smile usually mean in the US？

A. Love. B. Politeness.

C. Joy. D. Kindness.

13. The author mentions the smile of the Vietnamese to prove that a smile can ___ .

A. show personal habits

B. be used to hide true feelings

C. show friendliness to strangers

D. be used to show pleasure in public

14. What should we do before attempting to “read” people？

A. Learn about their relations with others.

B. Understand their cultural backgrounds.

C. Find out about their past experiences.

D. Figure out what they will do next.

15. What can be the best title for the text？

A. Cultural Differences B. Habits and Emotions

C. Facial Expressiveness D. Smiles and Relationships

Believe it or not， one of the most important communication skills is listening！ 1， but if you dont listen carefully when others speak， youre losing out in a big way. Good communication requires not only speaking your piece， but the exchange of ideas is an essential component （組成部分）.

Many people fail to recognize the importance of improving listening skills in making friends. 2 Its only natural—we all have a lot to say about ourselves. But asking questions of another person and then listening carefully is a good way to break the ice and make friends. And its also an excellent way for you to learn something new.

3. Make a point of going and talking to the girl wearing a Save the Whales T-shirt. Although this person may be shy， try to draw her out of her shell. Ask her a question about the whales plight （困境） and listen to what she says. Its likely youll make a new friend as well as learn several new facts.

In the class that youre sure will put you to sleep， try listening closely to what the speaker is saying. Chances are good that you only find it dull because the speaker doesnt communicate well or you are simply not interested in the topic. 4 Youll not only find your listening skills improving， but youll also benefit the speaker and probably receive a better grade！

5 Focus your mind on learning what others think and youll gain a reputation as a great conversationalist.

A. They love to talk about themselves.

B. You may be the finest speaker around.

C. They usually tend to show kindness by talking warmly.

D. Ask a question that makes him want to clarify his point.

E. Lets say youre at a party where you know few of the guests.

F. So， asking questions in class can benefit students a lot academically.

G. In short， the best way to improve listening skills is to engage yourself in conversation.

1.                 2.                 3.                 4.                 5.

Tim Becker and his neighbors are doing something to make their neighborhood a trouble-free area.

When Tim Becker gets into his car to go1 ， he doesnt just drive to a store and back home. He always looks2up and down the streets of his neighborhood. He looks for anything3such as strange cars， loud noises， broken windows， or people4on street corners.

Tim5to a neighborhood watch group in Stoneville， Indians， USA. The neighborhood watch group6on the third Wednesday of every month. Thats7Tim gets together with about ten of his neighbors to8community

safety. Members of the neighborhood watch group want to help the police keep their homes， streets， and families9 .

Tina Stedman， president of their neighborhood watch group，10with Tim. “People seem to think that11happens to other people but not to themselves. Well， it has never happened to me，” She says， “but I dont think anyone has the12to steal from other people or to make them feel13living in their own homes.”

Alex， a member of the group， says that all the neighbors

14out for one another. “We15each others homes. We keep watching on the neighborhood at night and on weekends. Usually a16of four or five of us goes out together. If something doesnt look right， then we call the17 . For example， if we notice a group of teenagers who seem to be looking for18 ， or someone destroying property （財产）， we19to the police.”

Alex feels the neighborhood watch group20a lot in keeping crime down. Her husband Jim agrees， “Police are good people， but they cant do everything.”

1. A. hiking B. dancing C. shopping D. fishing

2. A. carefully B. curiously C. nervously D. seriously

3. A. familiar B. unusual C. expensive D. uncertain

4. A. waiting B. sighing C. resting D. gathering

5. A. attends B. belongs C. goes D. turns

6. A. meets B. wanders C. practices D. searches

7. A. where B. why C. when D. how

8. A. introduce B. hear C. argue D. discuss

9. A. safe B. clean C. unchanged D. uninterested

10. A. speaks B. fights C. agrees D. lives

11. A. action B. condition C. luck D. crime

12. A. right B. chance C. courage D. mind

13. A. anxious B. dangerous C. disappointed D. disgusted

14. A. set B. work C. hold D. look

15. A. tidying B. enter C. watch D. manage

16. A. group B. series C. number D. crowd

17. A. judges B. police C. firemen D. doctors

18. A. work B. money C. service D. trouble

19. A. bring B. write C. shout D. report

20. A. needs B. helps C. finds D. gets

When I was 12， I met Jane in a college， which came to China with her parents. Her parents teach English at that time. We soon made friend with each other. Her Chinese was very well while I had difficulty speak English. In order to help me my English， she spoke as much English as she could when we were together. Before long， I could speak English well but at the same time I also made a great progress in my written English. Unfortunately， a year later， Jane returned home with his parents. And we had been out of touch with each other since then.

假設你是王宾，你的弟弟王平考入了他理想的高中读书。请你用英文给他写封信，告诉他今后在学习和生活上应注意的有关事宜。内容包括：

1.表示祝贺;

2.你的建议（学习、生活、健康方面）。

注意：

1.词数100左右;

2.信的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数;

3.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Wang Ping，

Speaking English is not only about using proper grammar. To use English effectively， you need to understand the culture in which it is spoken. Here are a number of important tips to remember when speaking English in the United States.

说英语不仅仅要语法正确。想要有效地使用英语，你需要了解语言使用国的文化。如果你在美国说英语，那么下面这些注意事项是你应该记住的。

General Points to Remember

需要记住的事项

Most Americans only speak English： While it is true that more and more Americans can speak Spanish， most Americans only speak English.

Americans have difficulty understanding foreign accents： Many Americans are not used to foreign accents. This requires patience from both of you！

大部分美国人只说英语：尽管现在越来越多的美国人能说西班牙语是事实，但是大部分的美国人只说英语。

美国人在理解外国口音上有困难：很多美国人不习惯外国口音。这就需要你们交谈双方都有耐心才行。

Conversation Tips

交谈沟通秘籍

Speak about location： Americans love to talk about location. When speaking to a stranger， ask them where they are from and then make a connection with that place. For example， “Oh， I have a friend who studied in Los Angeles. He says its a beautiful place to live.” Most Americans will then willingly talk about their experiences living or visiting that particular city or area.