While reading a book in English, every few lines of text, you run across a word or two that you don’t know. You look up every new word in the dictionary. Bad move. All that does slow you down. Even electric or CD ROM dictionaries can get in the way of your reading progress. A dictionary is like a road map. It can help you if you get lost and point you in the right direction. But if you stop to look at the “map” each time you take a step, you’ll get nowhere fast.

On your English learning “journey”, a dictionary can be a helpful “travel companion (伙伴)”--if it is not overused. To help you start thinking in English, use an English-to-English dictionary. Otherwise, you will always depend on (依赖) your native language and end up translating in your head.

A good dictionary can help you do more than just find the meaning of a word. It can help you verify (test and check) spelling, check word forms and grammar usage, find example sentence and learn pronunciation. Some dictionaries even provide exercises to teach you how to use their resources (资源) .

Take time to get to know your dictionary. Learn the pronunciation symbols (符号). Understand what the abbreviations (缩写字) mean. Try to master the important grammar rules. Look for charts, diagrams and lists that might be useful in the future. You will discover how helpful it can be to make friends with your dictionary. And as they say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

78. Why do we need a good English-to-English dictionary?

A. Because it is a good friend.

B. Because it can help us to find the right direction if we get lost.

C. Without it we’ll always depend on our native language and end up translating in our head.

D. Because it can help us to start thinking in English and in Chinese.

79. The underlined word “that ” in the last paragraph refers to __________.

A. pronunciation symbols and grammar rules

B. abbreviations and usage for grammar rules

C. the meaning of a word, spelling and grammar usage

D. charts, diagrams and lists

80. According to the passage , which statement can lead you to believe?

A. The more you use a dictionary, the better you can understand the article.

B. The more you use a dictionary, the faster you may read.

C. The more you use the resources in a dictionary, the more you can benefit from it.

D. The better a dictionary is, the more expensive it is.

People seem to have a natural need for friends and with good reason. Friends increase your enjoyment of life and relieve feelings of loneliness. They even can help reduce stress and improve your health. Having good friends is especially helpful when you are going through any kind of hard time such as when you are experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, or depression.

When you are with good friends you feel good about yourself, and you are glad to be with them. A friend is someone who —

●you like, respect, and trust, and who likes, respects and trusts you

●doesn’t always understand you, but accepts and likes you as you are, even as you grow and change

●allows you the space to change, grow, make decisions, and even make mistakes

●listens to you and shares with you both the good times and the bad times

●respects your need for secrets, so you can tell them anything

●lets you freely express your feelings and emotions without judging, teasing, or criticizing you

●accepts the limitations you have put on yourself and helps you to remove them

A person once said, “Friendship is a continuing source of bonding（连接）, releasing, and creating in yourself and with the other person. There is an emotional bond between the two people.”

A good friend or supporter may or may not be the same age or the same sex as you, and may not have the same educational, cultural, or religious background, or share interests that are similar to yours. Friendships also have different depths. Some are closer to the heart and some more superficial, but they’re all useful and good.

Which of the following is NOT a function of a friend?

A. He brings you some happiness.       B. He helps you feel less lonely.

C. He helps you get over the difficulties.  D. He helps you cheat on the exam.

The underlined word “superficial” means _______.

A. deep      B. hard     C. shallow   D. close

Which is the best title for the passage?

A.A Friend in Need Is A Friend Indeed  B. What Kind of Person A Friend Should Be

C. To Be A Good Friend             D. How to Get on with Your Friend

Lilian Hanson, a college student, expects to graduate in about two years. What makes Mrs Hanson different from her classmates is her age — 73 years. She has been studying at college, a few courses at a time, for 27 years.

  When Lilian Hanson graduated from high school, she went to the bank to borrow money for further education. The banker gave her no encouragement. He didn’t think that a country girl should borrow money to go to college. He thought she should be at home doing work in the house or around the farm. So Lilian Hanson went home and raised a family of nine children instead of going to college.

   Mrs Hanson never forgot her dream of getting a higher education. When her children were grown, she tried again. She finds the hardest part of going back to school at her age is the sitting in class for long periods of time. Because she is not as flexible（易适应的） as she used to be, Mrs Hanson often gets up and walks around between classes to keep from getting stiff（僵硬）. At the beginning of a course in using the computer, the other students all stood and gave her a warm welcome when she introduced herself and explained why she was there and what her aims were.

1.The difference between Lilian and her classmates is that         .

A. she works harder at her lessons

B. she is eager to graduate from college

C. she is much older

D. she is a country girl

2.Lilian wasn’t able to go to college after graduation from high school because ________.

A. she wanted to teach herself       B. she got married

C. she had to look after her children  D. she hadn’t enough money

3.The writer wrote the passage in order to show us that ________.

A. a friend in need is a friend indeed

B. one is never too old to learn

C. knowledge is power

D. education is of great importance

4.Lilian could get a higher education when she was old because ________.

A. she borrowed money from the bank

B. her husband and children helped her

C. her classmates encouraged her to get it

D. the reason isn’t mentioned in the passage

 (08·上海B篇)

Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job,a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London.Then one evening in June last year,she received a text message telling her she was out of work.“The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through,”she said.“After everything I’d done for the company,they dismissed me by text!I was so angry and I just didn’t feel like looking for another job.I hated everything about the city and my life.”

Then,Zoe received an invitation from an old schoolfriend,Kathy,to come and stay.Kathy and her husband,Huw,had just bought a farm in northwest Wales.Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London,and now,ten months later,she is still on the farm.

“The moment I arrived at Kathy’s farm,I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay,”said Zoe.“Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless.”

Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets.“It’s a hard life,physically very tiring,”she says.“In London I was stressed and often mentally exhausted.But this is a good,healthy tiredness.Here,all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy’s wonderful dinners.”

Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm.Every day brings a new experience.Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor.Since Christmas,she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable,she says,“It’s one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had.I could never go back to city life now.”

68.When working as a PR consultant in London,Zoe thought she lived a         life.

A.satisfying                    B.tough                    C.meaningless            D.boring

69.The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy’s farm is that         .

A.Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant

B.Kathy persuaded her to do so

C.Zoe got tired of the city life

D.Zoe loved Wales more than London

70.How does Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?

A.Tiresome and troublesome.

B.Romantic and peaceful.

C.Mentally exhausting but healthy.

D.Physically tiring but rewarding.

71.Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?

A.A friend in need is a friend indeed.

B.Where there is a will,there is a way.

C.A misfortune may turn out a blessing.

D.Kill two birds with one stone.