The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you’ll get your words mixed up(混淆) and people will not understand you. Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can’t understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor(幽默感), you can always have a good laugh at your mistakes you make. Don’t be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes. It’s better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don’t understand what you are saying. The most important things for learning English is: “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes(犯错).”
【小题1】The writer thinks that the best way for you to learn a language is_____.

When students and parents are asked to grade subjects according to their importance, the arts are usually at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is only viewed as entertainment, but certainly not an education priority（优先）. This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is very important for all students.

Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the beings who create it, it shows their thinking and values, as well as the social environment it came from. Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as does a Schubert song. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity（身份，特性）as a society.

Music provides a kind of perception（感知）that cannot be acquired any other way. Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts can express the emotive（情感的）meaning of the same thing. We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all.

The arts are forms of thought as powerful in what they communicate as mathematical and scientific symbols. They are ways we human beings “talk” to each other. They are the language through which we express our fears, our hungers, our discoveries, our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children an important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away from them the meanings that music expresses.

Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, celebration, the value of peace and love.

So music education is far more necessary than people seem to realize.

1.What can we learn from Paragraph 1?      

2.In Paragraph 2, the writer uses jazz as an example to____________.       

3.According to the passage, the arts and science____________.      .

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

Talking with people is necessary in our daily activities and it is also very important. However, we all have different styles of communicating. Some people seem to be liked by most of the people while others not! Why does this happen? The answer lies in the simple magic words of communication—Thank you, Please and Sorry!

Let’s see how and why we should use these three words:

◆ Thank you

There is not one day of our life which we spend without taking help from another person. From the time we start our day till we step into our bed for a good night’s sleep, we have taken a number of favors (恩惠). However, how many times do we thank the other person truly? Be free and generous in saying “Thank you”! It does not take away your credit (认可), but surely makes the other person happy and more willing to help you next time!

◆ Please

Often we take things for granted (想当然) and ask other people to do things for us. This does not help as others feel they are made to do these for you. A simple and sweet “please” could completely change the manner towards you.

◆ Sorry

Everyone makes mistakes, but it is quite difficult to accept it and say sorry for it. This always causes trouble in our relationship. Saying sorry does not disgrace (使丢脸) anyone, instead, puts them in a more polite position.

These three simple words can work wonders for people. If you truly use these words in your day to day communication with people, you will surely find a change in the way people respond (反应) to you and your actions.

The best way of learning a language is using it.The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible.Sometimes you’ll get your words mixed up(混淆) and people will not understand you.Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can’t understand them.But if you keep your sense of humor(幽默感), you can always have a good laugh at your mistakes(错误) you make.Don’t be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes.It’s better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don’t understand what you are saying.The most important things for learning English is: “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes.”

1. The writer thinks that the best way for you to learn a language is   .

A．writing in it

B．using it

C．listening to it

D．learning its grammar

2.What should you do in learning English?

A．We should be careful not to make any mistakes.

B．We should write as quickly as we can.

C．We should speak English as much as we can.

D．we should laugh more often.

3.When people laugh at your mistakes, you should_____.

A．not care

B．be happy

C．feel worried

D．be unhappy

4.When you make a mistake, you should_____.

A．keep quiet

B．get angry

C．be kind

D．keep your sense of humor

5.The story tells us that_____.

A．only foolish (愚蠢的) people make mistakes

B．few people make mistakes

C．people never make mistakes

D．there is no one who doesn’t make mistakes

Baseball is one of the favorite sports in the U.S.A. Children play baseball in sports fields or parks.

      At summer picnic, there is often an informal（非正式的） baseball game. Boys and girls, young and old take turns to play. There are nine players on each team.

      The baseball season goes from April to September. During this time, baseball matches are showed on TV and members of the important baseball teams become America's heroes（英雄）. At the end of the season, the two top teams play against each other. Many baseball fans go along to watch the game. Millions of others listen to the radio or watch television. People seem to talk only about the game. Even long after it is over, they still talk about the result and the players.

      American football is perhaps the most popular sport in the U.S.A. The football season begins when the baseball season ends. More people are interested in football than baseball. When there is an important game, thousands of people sit beside radios or in front of television sets to get the result.

1. There are            players on each baseball team.

A. seven               B. eleven                 C. four                D. nine

2. The baseball season goes from           .

A. April to September                          B. March to September

C. January to September                      D. May to September

3.            follows the baseball season in the U.S.A.

A. The basketball season                      B. The football season

C. A basketball match                           D. A football match

4.Which one is NOT right?

A. Boys and girls like baseball games.                           

B. More people are interested in football than baseball.

C. Just young boys and girls take turns to play in the informal baseball game.

D. Children sometimes play baseball in parks.

5.            is perhaps the most popular in the U.S.A.

A. Baseball                                              B. Table tennis

C. Basketball                                           D. American football