“My smmr hols wr CWOT．B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, hisGf & 3 kds FTF．”
The Scottish teacher who received it in class had no idea what the girl who wrote it meant．The essay was written in a form of English used in cell phone text messages．Text messages(also called SMS)through cell phones became very popular in the late 1990s．At first, mobile phone companies thought that text measuring would be a good way to messages to customers, but customers quickly began to use the text messaging service to send messages to each other．Teenagers in particular enjoyed using text messaging, and they began to create a new language for messages called“texting．”
A text message is limited to 160 characters, including letters, spaces, and numbers, so messages must be kept short．In addition, typing on the small keypad of a cell phone is difficult, so it’s common to make words shorter．In texting, a single letter or number can represent a word, like“r”for“are”,“u”for“you”, and“2”for“to”．Several letters can also represent a phrase, like“lol”for“laughing out loud”．Another characteristic of texting is the leaving out of letters in a word, like spelling“please”as“pls”．
Some parents and teachers worry that texting will make children bad spellers and bad writers．The students who wrote the essay at the top of this page said writing that way was more comfortable for her．(The essay said,“My summer holidays were a complete waste of time．Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three kids face to face．”)
Not everyone agrees that texting is a bad thing．Some experts say languages always develop, and this is just another way in which English is changing．Other people believe texting will disappear soon．New technology for voice messages may soon make text messages a thing of the past．
(1)
What is the writer’s opinion of text messaging?
[ ]
A．
The writer does not give his opinions．
B．
It is not bad for children．
C．
It will make children bad writers．
D．
It is fun and easy to do．
(2)
Which characteristic of texting is NOT described in the passage?
[ ]
A．
Using letters to represent words
B．
Using phrases to represent essays．
C．
Using letters to represent phrases
D．
Using numbers to represent words．
(3)
Which of the following was most probably the title of the student’s essay?
[ ]
A．
My Smmr Hols
B．
CU in LA
C．
My GF
D．
M Gr8 Tchr
(4)
Why aren’t some people worried about the effect of texting?
Israeli paintings－Israeli artist Menashe Kadishman will hold a personal show named “Flock of Sheep” from November 26 to December 20 at the China National Art Museum．On show are 550 colorful oil paintings of sheep heads．
His works have been on show in the Metropolitan Museum in New York and Tate Gallery in London over the past 30 years．
Time：9∶00 a. m.－4∶00 p. m., November 26-December 20．
Place：China National Art Museum,1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing．
Tel：6401-2252
Russia Ballet－The Kremlin Ballet from Russia will perform two immortal classical ballets－“Swiss Lake” and “The Nutcracker”－at the Beijing Beizhan Theatre．Set up in 1990, the theatre has a number of first-class ballet dancers with pride．Most of their performances are classical．
Time：7∶15 p. m., December 5 and 6(“Swan Lake”); 7∶15 p. m., December 7(“Nutcracker”)
Folk concert－The Central Conservatory of Music(音乐学院)will hold a folk concert in memory of the late musician Situ Huacheng．
On the programme are many popular folks such as “Moon Night on the Bamboo Tower” “Celebrating Harvest” “Deep and Lasting Friendship” “Golden Snake Dancers Wildly”, and “Children?s Holiday”．
Time：7∶30 p. m., November 25．
Place：Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhua Street．
Tel：6605-5812
(1)
If a child is very fond of dancing, his parent should take him to ________．
[ ]
A．
China National Art Museum
B．
Beizhan Theatre
C．
Beijing Concert Hall
D．
1 Wusi Street
(2)
Menashe Kadishman is well known for painting ________．
[ ]
A．
deer
B．
birds
C．
sheep
D．
flowers
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE?
[ ]
A．
The folk concert will last three days．
B．
The ballet “The Nutcracker” will be put on once．
C．
The Israeli paintings will be on show for a month．
D．
China National Art Museum lies in Xicheng District．
(4)
If you dial the telephone number 6605-3388 on Dec．8, you can ________．
[ ]
A．
go to the folk concert
B．
visit the Art Museum
C．
watch the ballet
D．
none of the above
阅读理解
ISC(HS)Reference No．S006864 New South Wales
Student Date of Birth：19/08/1988 Department of Education and Training
International Students Centre
Hong Xue 827-839 George Street PO Box 707
60 Waratah Street Broadway NSW 21007
Croydon Park NSW 2133 Phone：(612)9217 4801 1300 302 456
Fax：(612)9212 6721
http：//www.tafensw.edu.au/international/
WARNING LETTER
Dear Hong Xue,
As you are aware, your student visa regulations set out a number of conditions applying to your visa．It has come to our attention that you are failing to meet the following conditions：You must maintain accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements that have been approved by your education provider if you：
●have not turned 18; and
●are not staying in Australia with：
－a parent
－a custodian(监护人); or
－a relative who has been nominated(指定)by your parent or a custodian, is aged at least 21 and is of good character．
Note：You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of your education provider．
You must obey the following rules：
1．During term time you must：
a)remain in your homestay during the school term;
b)come home every night; and
c)inform your guardian at all times of your whereabouts．
2．On weekends you must：
a)have your guardian's permission to stay with friends; and
b)inform your guardian of the name, address and phone numbers of people you are visiting．
3．You must return your guardian's telephone calls．
This will be your only warning．If you continue to breach(违反)your student visa regulations we will report you to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．Such action may lead to the cancellation(取消)of your student visa．Please contact me on(612)9217 4801 or fax(612)9212 6721 if you have questions about your enrolment．
Yours sincerely
Tracey Carlon
Student Advisor
International Students Centre
NSW Department of Education and Training
(1)
What's the purpose of writing this letter?
[ ]
A．
To remind the recipient of the conditions for applying for a student visa．
B．
To warn the recipient not to do anything against his student visa regulations again．
C．
To tell the recipient how to contact his student advisor．
D．
To inform the recipient of the student visa regulations．
(2)
What can be learned about the recipient from this letter?
[ ]
A．
He is under 18 and studies in Australia with his parents．
B．
He is required to come home every night according to the rules．
C．
He can stay with his friends on weekends if permitted．
D．
His student Visa has been cancelled．
(3)
To which address should the recipient reply if he feels like answering the letter?
[ ]
A．
Hong Xue at 60 Waratah Street, Croydon Park NSW 2133．
B．
Tracey Carlon at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．
C．
Hong Xue at NSW Department of Education and Training．
D．
Tracey Carlon at 827-839 George Street, PO Box 707, Broadway NSW 21007．
