E?

Among the four skills in learning English ,which of these is the “Odd-Man-Out”?The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can't really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be “dangerous” because men in white coats may come and take you away!?

Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?At school if you pay to go to a language school ,you should use the chance to speak .If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students ,try to say as much as possible. Don't worry about your mistakes. Just speak!?

Conversation Clubs　Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another .Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you .They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee.?

Shopping　Even if you don't want to buy anything ,you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop.“How much does this cost?” “Can I pay by cheque?” Often you can start a real conversation—and it costs you nothing!?

Cafe and Bars　There are often American, Britain, Irish and Australian bars in many large cities .If you can find one, you'll probably meet many people speaking English as a first or second language.?

Language is all around you　Everywhere you go, you find language .Shop names, street names ,advertisements ,notices ,and car numbers....When you walk down the street ,practise reading the words and numbers that you see .Say them to yourself .It's not exactly a conversation ,but it will help you to “think” in English .But don't speak too loud!?

Songs and Video　Repeat the words of an English-language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic. It's good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English.?

Above all ,speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress!?

57．What does “Odd-Man-Out” probably mean according to the passage??

A.Someone or something appearing different from others.?

B.Someone or something standing out of the group.?

C.Someone or something arranged in pairs.?

D.Someone or something easily mistaken for another.?

58．What might happen if you speak to yourself loudly in public??

A.The police will take you away and punish you.?

B.The doctors will force you to stay in hospital.?

C.You will have to pay to escape being punished.?

D.You will be forbidden to be member of the club.?

59．Why does the writer say “Make as many mistakes as possible”?Because _______.

A.everyone will make mistakes in learning English?

B.everyone will meet people speaking English with some mistakes?

C.making mistakes is a must in making progress in learning English?

D.making mistakes can make one realize the importance of speaking?

60．According to the passage,which way is not likely to be accepted by English beginners?

A.Recite poems loudly along the riverside.?

B.Listen to some English pop songs and video.?

C.Find an Englishman to speak English with.?

D.Take to the TV showing programmes at home.??

Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father’s wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loves experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.

“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you’ve been playing with his new computer” Jason said, “He told us not to touch it.”

“He won’t find out,” Mark said, “I’ll just have a quick look and shut it down.”

Mark had been scolded before for touching his father’s equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.

It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It’s an experimental model,” his father had explained, so don’t touch it under any circumstances.” But his father’s warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into colours, shifting and changing, and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: “SPACE TRANSPORTER.”

“Yes!” Mark cried excitedly, “It’s a computer game. I knew it! Dad’s only been pretending to work. He’s really been playing games instead!” A new message appeared on the screen:

“ENTER NAMES

VOYAGE　１

VOYAGE　２

Mark’s finger flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.

“INPUT ACCEPTED.

START  TRANSPORT  PROGRAM.

AUTO-RETRIEVE  INITIATED(自动回收程序已启动).”

The screen turn even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.

“I think we’d better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled out in terror, reaching for the power switch. A beam(光束) of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒)，until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed：

“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL．

DESTINATION:  MARS.

RETRIEVE DATE:  2025

1.Why did Mark touch the computer against his father’s warning?

A．He wanted to take a voyage.               B．He wanted to practice his skills.

C．He was so much attracted by it.             D．He was eager to do an experiment.

2.Where did the boy’s father most likely work?

A．In an electronic factory.                  B．In a computer company.

C．In a scientific research center.              D．In an information processing center.

3.Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of ________.

A．a computer game                       B．a company website

C．a software producer                     D．an astronomy program

4.Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?

A．He was afraid of being scolded.

B．He didn’t like the loud noise and light.

C．He didn’t want to play games.

D．He was afraid something dangerous might happen.

5.What happened to the boys at the end of the story?

A．They were blown into the air.

B．They were sent to another planet.

C．They were hidden in the strong light.

D．They were carried away to another country.

International Studies (BA)

Key features

● Recognizes the “global community”（国际社会）

● Has close connections with practical research

● Much of the teaching is done in small discussion groups

About the course

 The course gives you chances to know great power polities between nation states. It will provide more space to study particular issues such as relationship among countries in the European Union, third world debt, local and international disagreement, and the work of such international bodies as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, and the World Bank.

The course puts theories into the working of the international system with close attention to particular countries. You will also have a better knowledge of methods of solving the international problems.

Related（相关的）courses

BA (Hons) Community Management

BA (Hons) Public Policy and Management

Employment possibilities

International organizations

International business

Earth Science (BSc)

Key features

 ● Based on key courses and the latest research findings

 ● Pays much attention to practical skills

 ● Offers chances for fieldwork（实地考察）

About the course

 The demand for natural resources is becoming an increasingly serious problem for the future of mankind. Graduates in Earth Science will play an important role in meeting this demand, and in knowing the meaning of using the natural resources.

 The course covers geography and geology. You will carry out fieldwork in the UK and possibly overseas, and a research in an area of interest to you in the final year.

Related courses

 BSc (Hons) Geograhpy

 BSc (Hons) Geology

Employment possibilities

 Mineral, oil, water or other related engineering industries

1.International Studies is a course in ________.

A．international polities　　B．international business

C．international systems　　D．international bodies

2.After taking the course of International Studies, the students will  _______.

A．become practical and open-minded

B．have a greater ability to discuss theories

C．know how to settle international problems

D．have good jobs in any international organizations

3.Earth Science, as described in the second text, ________.

A．is attractive because of the chances for fieldwork

B．pays more attention to practical skills than theories

C．is built on important courses and the results of recent studies

D．encourages students to play a role in using natural resources

4.It can be inferred that the above two texts are written for the students who _______.

A．enjoy research work　　B．plan to choose courses

C．study in the UK　　　　D．are interested in overseas fieldwork

完形填空

　　The western world has always been divided into two types of people——the cool and the uncool. It is a division that __1__ in school. The cool kids are good at __2__. They are __3__ with the opposite sex. They are good-looking and people want to __4__ their style. They can do their homework but they don't make a big effort. That would __5__ be cool.

　　The uncool kids are in the other corner of the playground. They are very bright, but they don't have great. __6__ skills and they are __7__ at sports. When they are not programming computers or doing calculus（微积分）in their heads, they are reading comic books and watching shows like the“X Files”. They are __8__ as the geeks.

　　Here's the news. The geeks are __9__. Make friends with them now or they will put virus in your computer and __10__ your maths homework to ruin. Geeks might not be popular at school, yet they do pass their examinations, and they might not be too popular at university, but __11__ good degrees.

　　The most important __12__ of the 21st century, computers and IT, has been at least partly created by geeks. Geek heroes like Bill Gates __13__ others to follow their example. Being a geek is a way of earning good money. And the creation of the Internet gave them a __14__ of their own to work and play in, making them a global __15__. Besides, the effect of the geeks __16__ popular culture has started a new trend（趋势）. It is now cool to be __17__. Geek culture is becoming an important part of general popular culture, in which what you know is more important than __18__ you look like.

　　But there are also __19__. Geeks were often bullied or laughed at in school. Now a geek may be your boss. Perhaps it is time for __20__.