It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?
In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示条件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉转的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!
The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.
“If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.
60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.
A. clearer        B. quicker             C. more polite        D.more exciting
61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.
B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.
C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.
D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.
62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.
A. the workers will make more money
B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise
C. the spokesman keeps his word
D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult
63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.
A. the conditional in communication
B. how to invite a girl in Britain
C. British people and their life           
D. some language points in daily English

It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

    In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示条件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉转的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

    The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

    “If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.

60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.

   A. clearer            B. quicker                   C. more polite           D.more exciting

61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.

   B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

   C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.

   D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.

62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.

   A. the workers will make more money

   B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise

   C. the spokesman keeps his word

   D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult

63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.

   A. the conditional in communication

B. how to invite a girl in Britain

   C. British people and their life           

D. some language points in daily English

It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?

    In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示条件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉转的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!

    The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of workers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.

    “If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.

60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.

   A. clearer         B. quicker             C. more polite        D.more exciting

61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.

   B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.

   C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.

   D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.

62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.

   A. the workers will make more money

   B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise

   C. the spokesman keeps his word

   D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult

63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.

   A. the conditional in communication

B. how to invite a girl in Britain

   C. British people and their life           

D. some language points in daily English

.

Al had been working in this factory only eleven months, but he excelled at everything he did. He looked for new tasks-as an opportunity to gain experience. To him, mistakes were not to be denied but considered an opportunity to learn. He was, by far, the most capable man among his workmates, One day, when he was finishing his work of the day, he heard Jack calling him.

“What are you going to do about…?” asked Jack.

“I’ll come off the end rail,” interrupted Al.

“No, I mean about Joe’s promotion?”

“I’m going back to school,” Al said.

“Excuse me!”

“I’m going back to school,” Al repeated.

“You mean you’re quitting!”

Was it that simple? Is this why there was so much misery in men’s lives? “I’m going back to school” was just an excuse, and Al knew it, thought Jack, or Al would not be drunk. It seemed that Al would rather get drunk than fight for his happiness. But why? Jack had no answer.

“Yes, and I’m going back to school. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t believe that this kind of thing can happen. Maybe if I get more education and a better job, it will be different.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Well, what do you want we to do?” Al was getting angry: “I can’t stay here! I can’t work where the most incapable get the biggest reward! I can’t kill Joe and the boss like…”

Al stopped. They both knew what this meant.

“Like I did?”

Al did not answer.

“Yes, I killed two men with my bare hands; yes, I got punished and lost my job-but I kept my soul!”

Al undertood the hidden statement. Al did not know whether it was his anger, or the beer, or both that made him less cautious in the face. He held his hands firmly. Then be heard Jack: “You’ve got the right idea, Al. You’ve got to fight.”

Al needed to think. Instead of taking the subway, he walked five miles back home. By the time he entered his bedroom, he climbed into bed. Turned off his mind, and fell asleed.

67．Choose from the following a right word to describe Jack.

A．Tough.     B．Incapable. C．Lazy. D．Talkative.

68．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Jack was not happy about Joe’s promotion.

B．Al and jack were workmates.

C．The conversation between Al and Jack happened in their workplace.

D．The conversation between Al and Jack happened during the working hours.

69．What can we infer from the underlined part?

A．Jack thinks Al has lost his soul.

B．Jack used to be a killer.

C．Al would be a killer.

D．Don’t be a killer like Jack.

70．Which of the following is true about Al at the end of the story?

A．Al felt so tired from the long walk home and couldn’t help falling asleep.

B．Al and made up his mind and knew what to do.

C．Al forgot all that had happened.

D．Al was too confused to think further.

My husband and I sat outside. A small child about three came up the street, accompanied by her mother. As she saw another girl a few feet away, she gave her admiring comment, “Mommy, I like her dress.” Her mom   21 , “Well, why don’t you go and tell her?”
The little girl walked   22  toward the girl wearing the pretty dress. The other one,
  23  the same age, was standing with her   24  turned, alongside her parents. They had not heard the compliment (赞美). Receiving no answer, this little one   25 . My husband said to the other girl, “  26  wants to tell you something.” As she turned around, connection was made. Once again, the little one   27  “I like your dress,” and upon hearing those words, the other one gave her a big smile and excitedly   28  “Look, it’s a spinning (旋转) dress!”, at which moment she began to spin in  29. Both of them smiled widely.
Now, the one stopped spinning and said, “It’s my favorite dress and I have (a)   30  that match!” She   31  running toward a stroller (婴儿车) parked nearby.
The mom and the daughter started to   32  down the street,   33  the encounter (邂逅) had ended. Moments later, the “spinning dress girl” reappeared, shoes in hand,   34  her new friend who had seemingly disappeared. Now, an elderly couple, seated on a bench, had obviously been  35  of all this. The man   36  the child, saying, “There’s someone coming behind you.” Then we saw one showed and the other   37  the beautiful shoes.
If you can make a   38  better, do it. I have no idea how many others that evening might have   39  this act, hoping to help good things to happen. But such brief moments,  40  together, make up what might very well be the important times in our lives.