If you want to become a fluent English speaker, you should take some advice: there are four skills in learning English. They are listening, speaking, reading and writing. The most important thing you must remember is that if you want to improve your speaking and writing skills you should first master the skills of reading and listening.

Read as much as you can. But your reading must be active. It means that you must think about the meaning of the sentences, the meaning of the unfamiliar words, etc.

There is no need for you to pay much attention to grammar—or try to understand all the unfamiliar words you come across, but the fact you see them for the first time and recognize them whenever you see them, for example in other passages or books, is enough. It would be better to prepare yourself a notebook so you can write down the important words or sentences in it.

As for listening, there are two choices: besides reading, you can listen every day for about 30 minutes. You can only pay attention to your reading and become skillful at your reading, then you can catch up on your listening. Since you have lots of inputs(输入) in your mind, you can easily guess what the speaker is going to say. This never means that you should not practice listening.

For listening you can listen to cartoons or some movies that are specially made for children. Their languages are easy. Or if you are good at listening, you can listen to VOA or BBC programs every day. Again the thing to remember is being active in listening and preferably(更好地) taking some notes.

If you follow these pieces of advice, your speaking and writing will improve automatically(自动地),and you can be sure that with a little effort they will become perfect.

1.According to the author, which should you improve first among the four skills?

A.Reading and listening.B.Reading and writing.

C.Writing and speaking.D.Speaking and listening.

2.To improve your reading, when you read you should ________.

A.look up all the new words in the dictionary

B.think about what you are reading actively

C.spend more time studying grammar

D.copy as many words and sentences as possible

3.The underlined words “come across” in paragraph 3 probably be replaced by ________.

A.meet by accidentB.discoverC.find on purposeD.look for

4.The author seems to agree with the view that ________.

A.everyone should listen to VOA or BBC programs every day

B.you needn’t practice listening if you keep in reading every day

C.being good at reading is helpful in improving your listening

D.you should take notes of whatever you are hearing

Your kids are amazing especially compared with everybody else's (who seem to cry all the time). How do you show your love for your kids this holiday season? With toys that are smooth and colorful, interactive and exciting. And with ones that have educational value because you are the boss.

1. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

Here is a toy that doesn't need power and the kids have to put it together themselves. This 50-piece puzzle set that can make your children active is made of soft-edged hardwood and make a complete hospital, with an X ray room. It also includes eight patients, a car and a driver. $ 135; flaxart.com.?

2. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

Sure, it's cool, but this colorful baby toy also develops problem solving and motor skills. It has a head and legs, a magnetic(磁性的) hand and a tail. Suitable for little ones from 6 to 36 months. $19.95; tinylove.com.?

3. ROBOSAPIEN

This small, remote control robot is really powerful. It performs 67 preprogrammed functions(功能), including throwing, kicking, picking up and dancing. You can even program your own function ——which, sadly, does not include doing windows. $99; robosapienonline.com.?

4. MINI PEDAL(脚踏板的)CAR

Want a Mini Cooper but can't fit the family inside? Get one for the kids. They can jump into this Mini car, which comes in hot orange with a single adjustable(可调的) seat, and ride away. For ages 3 to 5. $189; miniusa.com (click on "gear up," then "Mini motoring gear").

1.Which toy is said to have the special design for children's safety?

A. ROBOSAPIEN

B. MINI PEDAL CAR

C. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

D. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

2.Which toys are fit for three-year-old kids?

A. 1 and 3. B. 2 and 4. C. 1 and 2.D. 3 and 4.

3. Educational value is mentioned in all the toys EXCEPT________.

A. FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

B. TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

C. ROBOSAPIEN

D. MINI PEDAL CAR

4.This passage is written for_____________

A. parents B. children

C. students D. bosses

5.Where can you possibly read this article?

A. In a novel. B. On the Internet.

C. In a textbook. D. In a science fiction.

While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for ways to deal with stress.

Try physical activity

When you are nervous, angry or upset, try releasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis, or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you to relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life.

Share your stress

It helps to talk to someone about your anxieties and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher or even your leader can help you a better view of what's troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from a psychologist or a doctor. Knowing when to ask for help is an important step in avoiding serious problems later.

Take care of yourself

You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and cannot sleep well enough, or if you're not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor. Make time for yourself.

Make a list of the things you need to do

Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there's so much to do, and not enough time". Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything. Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important tasks first.

Go ahead and cry

A good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical effect of anxiety and stress.

1.What is most probably the writer's purpose in writing the article?

A. To release his or her working tiredness.

B. To help solve the universal problem of stress.

C. To strengthen his or her anxiety.

D. To have more people cry out.

2.Physical activity can help people release stress because________.

A. only your body movement can help you relax

B. your mind can work better to free you of anxiety

C. your body and mind can cooperate in releasing stress

D. physical activity doesn't play an important part in reducing nervousness

3.What is similarity between "Share your stress" and "Go ahead and cry"?

A. They both help you let out your feelings.

B. They both need physical movement.

C. They both require mental relaxation.

D. They can cause a headache.

4.The underlined sentence is close to the meaning of "________".

A. Strike while the iron is hot

B. More haste, less speed

C. Practice makes perfect

D. Quietness wins time

Because, like most of you, I began college in my teens, but after a year, I was offered my dream job at Universal Studios, so I dropped out.

Well, I left college because I knew exactly what I wanted to do and some of you know, too — but some of you don’t. Or maybe you thought you knew but are now questioning that choice. Maybe you’re sitting there trying to find out how to tell your parents that you want to be a doctor and not a writer.

I told my parents if my movie career didn’t go well, I’d re-enroll(重新报名上学). It went all right. But finally, I returned for one big reason.

Most people go to college for an education, and some go for their parents, but I went for my kids. I’m the father of seven, and I kept insisting on the importance of going to college, but I hadn’t walked the walk. So, in my fifties, I re-enrolled at Cal State-Long Beach, and I earned my degree.

Well, what you choose to do next is what we call in the movies the ‘character-defining(角色定义) moment’.

Life is one strong, long string of character-defining moments. And I was lucky that at 18 I knew what I exactly wanted to do. But I didn’t know who I was. How could I? And how could any of us? Because for the first 25 years of our lives, we are trained to listen to voices that are not our own. Parents and professors fill our heads with wisdom and information, and then employers and tutors take their place and explain how this world really works.

And I want to be clear that your intuition(直觉) is different from your conscience. Here’s the difference: Your conscience shouts, ‘here’s what you should do,’ while your intuition whispers, ‘here’s what you could do.’ Listen to that voice that tells you what you could do. Nothing will define your character more than that.

Sticking to your character requires a lot of courage. And to be courageous, you’re going to need a lot of support. And if you’re lucky, you have parents like mine. I consider my mom my lucky charm.

But look, if your family’s not always available, there’s backup. Do you remember that movie? It’s a Wonderful Life? There’s an actor’s line in it: No man is a failure who has friends.” And I hope you hold on to the friendships you’re made here at Harvard. And among your friends, I hope you find someone you want to share your life with.

1.In the writer’s opinion, why can’t we define ourselves before 25 years old?

A. Because we are not old enough.

B. Because we are used to listening to others’ voices.

C. Because our parents and professors ask us to listen to the voices of our employers.

D. Because we can’t find suitable jobs.

2.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. The writer completed his college study in his teens.

B. The writer’s movie career didn’t go all right so he returned to college.

C. It was not until he was 25 years old that the writer knew what he exactly wanted to do.

D. The writer suggests we should listen to our intuition.

3.What do the last two paragraphs mainly tell us?

A. It takes much courage to insist on your character.

B. It’s important to find a boyfriend or a girlfriend at Harvard.

C. There are some supporters who should be valued in our life.

D. The movie It’s a Wonderful Life is worth watching.

4.The passage is most likely to be ________.

A. a speechB. a reportC. a film reviewD. an advertisement

假如你是国际捐赠中心( International Donation Centre)的一名志愿者。为了帮助贫困山区的人们过冬,该中心号召大家捐赠自己不穿的旧衣物。请你用英语写一篇捐赠倡议书发布到网站上,要点如下:

1. 以暖和的厚衣服为主;

2. 没有破洞;

3. 邮寄前洗净并分类;

4. 咨询电话:1234567。

注意:1. 词数:100左右;

2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;

3. 参考词汇:donor (cn.) 捐赠者; donate(vt.) 捐赠;

donation (un.) 捐赠,(cn.) 捐赠物

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