A study of English learning problems was carried out among a total of 106 foreign students. It shows that most students considered understanding spoken English to be their biggest problem on arrival. This was followed by speaking. Writing increased as a problem as students discovered difficulties in writing papers that they were now expected to hand in. Reading remained as a significant(显著的) problem.

The information gained helped us in determining where special attention should be paid in our course. Although many students have chosen to join the course with a reasonable motivation(动机), we considered it important to note what seemed to encourage interest. Nearly all the students have experienced some kind of grammar-based English teaching in their own country. To use the same method would be self-defeating because it might reduce motivation, especially if it has failed in the past. Therefore a different method may help because it is different.

Variety of activity was also seen as a way of maintaining(保持) or increasing motivation. Several years ago we had one timetable that operated throughout, but we soon found that both the students and the teachers lost interest by about halfway through the ten weeks. This led us to a major re-think, so finally we brought it into line with the expressed language needs of the students.

10. What is the text mainly about?

A. Foreign students have more problems.

B. There are many ways to improve English.

C. Teaching should meet students’ needs.

D. English learning problems should be studied again.

11. Writing became a bigger problem when foreign students________.

A. had to write their papers

B. became better at speaking

C. became less interested in reading

D. had fewer problems with listening

12. We may infer from the last two paragraphs that ________.

A. different teaching methods should be used

B. grammar-based teaching seems to be encouraging

C. English courses are necessary for foreign students

D. teaching content should be changed halfway.

Passage Nineteen (TV’s Harmfulness)

Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television? How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never fond it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilized pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the goggle box. We rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do – anything, providing it doesn’t interfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.

Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn’t matter that the children will watch rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence – so long as they are quiet.

There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in preliterate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communication: pictures and the spoken word.

Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy, we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be s splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilization. In quiet, natural surroundings, we quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.

1.What is the biggest harm of TV?

A.It deprives people of communication with the real world.

B.People become lazy.

C.People become dependent on second-hand experience.

D.TV consumes a large part of one’s life.

2.In what way can people forget TV?

A.Far away from civilization.

B.To a mountain.

C.By the sea.

D.In quiet natural surroundings.

3.What does a mother usually do to keep her children quiet?

A.Let them watch the set.

B.Put them in the living room.

C.Let them watch the rubbish.

D.Let them alone.

4.What does the first sentence in the first paragraph mean?

A.We found it difficult to occupy our spare time.

B.We become addicted to TV.

C.What we used to do is different from now.

D.We used to enjoy civilized pleasures.

Whether you’re headed to another country for business or pleasure, it is likely that you need to keep in touch with family or business partners in the United States. But if you plan to do that using your cell phone, you could have an unwelcome surprise. U,S. cell phones don't work abroad. U.S. companies use different forms of technology, not like most of the international community, including Europe.

However, there is an easy, cost-effective solution to staying in touch while you're traveling, You can rent a phone that is guaranteed to work in the countries you're visiting. Roadpost offers a 30-day cell phone rental plan that includes call waiting services, free incoming calls and free voicemail.

The service is convenient and simple. You can place your order online and your phone will be shipped to arrive on the date you want. If an unexpected business trip comes up, Roadpost can provide next-day delivery for most cities. In addition to the phone, Roadpost provides a spare battery, travel Charger and a leather carrying case.

When your phone is shipped from Roadpost, you receive an e-mail confirmation that  contains your international cell phone number so you can leave it with family members and  business partners: Roadpost even provides business cards preprinted with your international  phone number.

Those who don’t want to be without e-mail while traveling can rent an international BlackBerry. It can be hard to stay in touch by e-mail when traveling. With an international BlackBerry, you can email as much as you like, without worrying about an expensive bill.

If you're traveling to very remote areas, you may want to consider renting a satellite phone. Because they receive their signals from satellites, these phones work anywhere the planet, including oceans and mountains. When you return, simply ship the phone BlackBerry back to Roadpost using the return kit the company provides.

1.According to the text, Roadpost probably is______ .

A.an organization that offers some free services

B.a person who offers some advice to foreign tourists

C.a company that rents cell phones to Americans going abroad

D.a person who makes travel plans for Americans

2.The first paragraph mainly tells us that______ .

A.Americans need to change their cell phones

B.European form of technology is different from America’s

C.U.S. cell phones don't work abroad

D.Americans who go abroad will meet an unwelcome surprise

3.Which of the following will help you a lot in mountainous areas?

A.BlackBerry.                            B.The return kit.

C.E-mail.                                D.Satellite phones.

4.According to the text, it can be inferred that_______ .

A.an international BlackBerry is mainly used to send ,.-mail for free

B.Roadpost can offer cell phones used in different areas

C.you should select a bag used to send your cell phone

D.Roadpost's service is convenient and simple

5.Which of the following services is free of charge from Roadpost?

A.Voicemail.                             B.Sending e-mail.

C.Shipping the phone back.                 D.Call waiting services.

 

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