( A ) China news, Beijing, Dec. 28 – High oil   prices make more Chinese public feel the pressure it brings on them. It is   said that oil prices will continue to hover（徘徊） at a high level next year, the China Economic Times   reported.

( B ) An English Christmas evening party is to be   held in the meeting hall of our school from 7:00 to 10:00 p. m. on Christmas   Eve. Each group has to give at least two performances, such as singing   English songs, giving English plays, telling jokes or stories in English and   reading English poems. Please get everything ready and be present at the   party on time. Thanks.

( C ) Whether your interest is the language, the   food or the culture of China in general, whether you wish to travel, live or   study in China, "Travel in Chinese" has something for you. This   series has a total of 100 lessons. It was on CCTV, China?s national TV   station. Host: Mark Rowswell, also known as "大山"                (Da   Shan).

( D ) Students need enough sports and activities   to do physical exercises and relax. But in some schools they are not given   enough time to do outside activities. It is harmful for students' growth. In   fact, teachers should know how to attract the students' attention. It is   necessary to do outside activities. When students feel tired and bored, they   can't concentrate on studies. Some students are unhealthy because of little   activities.

1. 1.

   According to Passage A, oil prices will _____________ next year

   1. A.
      be the same as usual
   2. B.
      be higher
   3. C.
      be lower
   4. D.
      have nothing to do with Chinese public
2. 2.

   Passage B may be a/ an piece of _________

   1. A.
      advice
   2. B.
      sick leave
   3. C.
      notice
   4. D.
      invitation
3. 3.

   From Passage C, we know _________

   1. A.
      people can learn Chinese on TV
   2. B.
      if foreign people want to stay in China, "Travel in Chinese" can help them a lot
   3. C.
      Da Shan is good at Chinese
   4. D.
      all of the above
4. 4.

   Passage D mainly tells us that_________.

   1. A.
      some students don’t have enough time to do outside activities
   2. B.
      students need enough sports and activities
   3. C.
      teachers should know how to attract the students' attention
   4. D.
      students feel tired and bored, they can't concentrate on studies

Except for a few times, Americans are not big present-givers. There’s no exchange of presents among business people, and if one American tries to give another a present, it may look like that he wants to bribe (贿赂) him. Americans have learned that in some other countries people like to give presents to others, but among ourselves we don’t see the need for presents.
Even friends may never exchange presents. When I go to foreign countries, I try to bring back little things for close friends, but nobody would feel unhappy if I didn’t. I don’t often re­member a friend’ s birthday, and few people outside of my family remember mine. If someone gave me presents too often, I’d get unpleasant. But a present from a foreigner — that kind from his or her homeland — won’t go wrong, except to government employees (政府职员) who can’t be given presents.
You usually open a present at once and in front of the person who gives it except Christmas and birthday presents. You should only say, ‘It’s so nice. Thanks…’when you get Christ­mas or birthday presents.
You may want to bring a bottle of wine (葡萄酒) or flowers to a dinner party, but you’re never asked to. Nobody will mind if you bring wine, but your friend may not use it that evening.
At Christmas we often give presents to our family and sometimes our friends. We also give presents to people who have been helpful during the year like doormen, babysitters, housecleaners , newspaper senders — anyone who has often helped us.
【小题1】What do the underlined words ‘close friends’ mean in the passage?