If you are asked to chair a meeting, remember the following six golden rules for meeting management.

    Always start the meeting on time. If you begin on time, group members who show up late will realize the value of time. Beginning on time shows skill as an effective time manager and sets an example for others to follow.

  Select a note-taker. You may need to refer back to something that was discussed during the meeting at a later date. Good record-keeping is a sign of a good meeting manager as well.    

  Learn to listen. So many times we think about what we are going to say and, in the process, miss important points that other group members may be contributing （做贡献）. Additionally, we often hear only what we want to hear, instead of really listening to other people. Meetings with effective listening are successful meetings.

  Keep the discussion on track（轨道）. Many times an important topic can get sidetracked in a meeting, especially when everyone has a different opinion about the topic. If an unexpected conflict（冲突） develops once the meeting is in progress, either ask a special group to look into the problem, or ask members involved in the conflict to meet with you after the meeting. Doing so will help keep the discussion on track and reduce the chances of wasting group members’ valuable time.

  Give everyone an opportunity to be heard. Some people like to control meetings, while others wait to be asked their opinions. As the leader of the meeting, you need to keep an open mind and make sure everyone feels welcome to contribute and express ideas without criticism.

    End on time. If you said the meeting would last no longer than one hour, make sure the meeting lasts for only one hour. Running late with a meeting makes members late for other appointments, increases the chances that the members will mentally leave the meeting and reduces your reliability as an effective meeting manager.

53. Why should we learn to listen according to the passage?

  A. To show respect to other members.

  B. To hear only what we want to hear.

  C. To get useful and important points.

  D. To save the members’ valuable time.

54. The expression “Give everyone an opportunity to be heard.” in Paragraph 6 means __________.

    A. every one can express their ideas freely without criticism

    B. the meeting manager shouldn’t speak a lot at the meeting

    C. everyone has the right to ask others opinions at the meeting

    D. all group members have to express their ideas at the meeting

55. What can we learn from the passage?

  A. Everyone should look back to what is discussed at the meeting later.

  B. The meeting should be ended on time or some members will leave.

  C. A meeting manager should let members discuss unexpected conflicts.

  D. If you start the meeting on time, late—comers may not be late next time.

56. The author’s main purpose of writing the passage is to __________.

  A. make everyone realize the value of time

  B. encourage people to have their own ideas

  C. advise people how to hold a meeting successfully

  D. give some advice on how to be an effective manager

Here are some tips on how to talk with your parents.

Try to start your talk with something fun. This will make talking easier. For example, ask your parents questions about their day. They love this!

Make it clear what you want to tell your parents if they have an opinion, let them finish and don’t disturb. Ask them to do the same for you.

Show them respect by listening to them carefully. Look at their eyes sincerely.

Be honest. Honesty builds trust(信任). Life is good when your parents trust you.

If your parents don’t understand, that’s OK. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you or they’re not trying. Sometimes you have to explain things to them again or in a different way.

When you finish the talk, thank them for listening. Say something like, “Thanks! That helped.” It will let them know this is important to you, and make them want to do it more often.

If you feel there are still things to talk about, set up a time with them to talk about it another day.

1.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. We should show respect to our parents.

B. There are some ways to talk with our parents.

C. It’s important to trust our parents.

2.What should we do when our parents have some opinions?

A. Let them finish and don’t disturb.

B. Let them listen to you.

C. Argue with them and then say sorry.

3.Why should we look at their eyes while listening?

A. Because they make us do that.

B. Because this shows we agree with what they say.

C. Because this makes them feel respected.

4.When we finish the talk, we should tell our parents that we _______ what they have done for us. This will let them know talking is important to us.

A. are careful of

B. are thankful for

C. are satisfied with

5.Which is the best title for this passage?

A. Some Tips on How to Talk with Parents.

B. Respect Parents.

C. Try to Talk with Parents.

Why should we learn to swim?

Firstly, swimming is a good exercise for our health. Indeed doctors say it is the best exercise, because in swimming all the muscles of the body are used.

Secondly, swimming gives great pleasure. How nice it is, on a hot dusty day in summer, to take off one’s clothes and dive into the cool water of a rive or the sea, and to swim and float until one feels enough.

Thirdly, swimming may sometimes mean all the different between life and death, we never know when we may be in danger from water. We got on a voyage, and the ship in wrecked; we go for a pleasure sail on a lake and the boat turns over; we slip as we are walking along the bank of a river, and half in the water. If we can swim, we have chance for saving our own lives, but if we cannot swim, we are pretty certain to be drowned. So for our own safety, we should learn to swim.

Lastly, if we can swim, we may be able to save other people from drowning. How sad it is to see a friend drowning before our eyes while we cannot help just because we cannot swim.

(   )4.Who says that swimming is the best exercise?  _________.

A. Farmers  B. Dentists    C. Fishermen        D. Doctors

(   )5.When swimming, ________.

A. We don’t move at all   

B. all the muscle of the body are used

C. we move our legs only

D. we drink lots of seawater into our stomach

(   )6.Swimming ­­­­________.

A. gives great pain                     B. gives no pleasure   

C. gives much pleasure                  D. does harm to the body

(   )7.If we can swim, ________.

A. we are no longer humans, but fish         

B. we shall be drowned one day

    C. we have a chance of saving our own lives  

D. we can’t walk any more

Why should we learn to swim?

Firstly, swimming is a good exercise for our health. Indeed doctors say it is the best exercise, because in swimming all the muscles of the body are used.

Secondly, swimming gives great pleasure. How nice it is, on a hot dusty day in summer, to take off one’s clothes and dive into the cool water of a rive or the sea, and to swim and float until one feels enough.

Thirdly, swimming may sometimes mean all the different between life and death, we never know when we may be in danger from water. We got on a voyage, and the ship in wrecked; we go for a pleasure sail on a lake and the boat turns over; we slip as we are walking along the bank of a river, and half in the water. If we can swim, we have chance for saving our own lives, but if we cannot swim, we are pretty certain to be drowned. So for our own safety, we should learn to swim.

Lastly, if we can swim, we may be able to save other people from drowning. How sad it is to see a friend drowning before our eyes while we cannot help just because we cannot swim.

11.Who says that swimming is the best exercise?  _________.

A. Farmers          B. Dentists     C. Fishermen            D. Doctors

12.When swimming, ________.

A. We don’t move at all                 B. all the muscle of the body are used

C. we move our legs only                D. we drink lots of seawater into our stomach

13.Swimming ­­­­________.

A. gives great pain                     B. gives no pleasure   

C. gives much pleasure                  D. does harm to the body

14.If we can swim, ________.

A. we are no longer humans, but fish          B. we shall be drowned one day

C. we have a chance of saving our own lives   D. we can’t walk any more

15.If we can swim, ________.

A. we may be able to help others from drowning 

B. we can’t save others from drowning

C. it is pretty danger certain that we will get drowned

D. there is a great danger when we fall into the water